Skip to main content

Full text of "Vita Haroldi. The romance of the life of Harold, king of England. From the unique manuscript in the British museum"

See other formats 


WW/A 


i. 


VITA   HAROLDI. 


MOULD  FOR  A  PILGRIM'S  BADGE  OF  THE  HOLY  CROSS  OF 
WALTHAM. 


Tkt  illustration  kindly  lent  by  the  British  Archaeological  Association. 


VITA     HAROLD  I. 


THE    ROMANCE    OF    THE    LIFE 


OF 


HAROLD,  KING  OF  ENGLAND. 


From  the  Unique  Manufcript  in  the  Britijh  Mufium. 


EDITED, 

WITH  NOTES  AND  A  TRANSLATION, 

BY 

WALTER  DE  GRAY  BIRCH,  F.S.A., 

A  Senior  Assistant  lit  the  Department  of  Manuscripts  in  the  British  Museum , 

Honorary   Secretary   of  the    British    ArcJueological  Association; 

Member  of  (he  Committee  of  the  Paragraphical  Society,  etc. 


LONDON :  ELLIOT  STOCK, 

62,     PATERNOSTER     ROW,     E.G. 
1885. 


INTRODUCTION, 

[HE  romantic  life  of  King  HAROLD — 
the  laft  monarch  before  England 
fell  under  a  feries  of  dominations  of 
foreign  dynafties,  which  has  lafted 
nearly  nine  hundred  years — has,  for  a  confiderable 
time,  formed  an  interefting  theme  with  hiftorians 
and  men  of  literature.  It  is  printed  in  the  follow- 
ing pages  from  a  careful  collation  with  the  unique 
manufcript  in  the  Harley  Library  of  the  Britifh 
Mufeum,  No.  3776,  with  a  tranflation  for  the 
firft  time. 

For  the  convenience  of  reference,  I  mall  divide 
the  fubject  of  this  introduction  into  the  following 
fections :  (i)  Defcription  of  the  Manufcript; 
(2)  Hiftory  of  the  Manufcript ;  (3)  Notices  of 
the  Hiftorical  Points,  and  of  the  Tranflation. 

I.  DESCRIPTION  OF  THE  MANUSCRIPT.. 

The  manufcript  is  of  quarto  fize,  meafuring 
i  of-  inches  by  8  inches,  of  fomewhat  thick  and 


vi  Introduction. 

rough  vellum.  The  writing,  in  pale-coloured  ink,  is 
contained  in  thirty-one  lines  to  a  page,  in  a  Gothic 
or  black-letter  book  hand,  occafionally  difficult  to 
interpret,  becaufe  of  the  fimilar  way  of  forming 
the  m,  ni,  ui,  in,  etc.  It  is  evidently  written,  or 
rather  copied  from  the  author's  own  writing,  by  a 
fcribe  ignorant  of  Latin — perhaps  a  novice  of  the 
great  Abbey  of  Waltham — for  feveral  words  are 
found  divided  erroneoufly,  and  others  occur  where 
they  are  improperly  joined  together.  The  ink, 
originally  black,  is  now  of  a  faded  brown  colour. 
The  ornamental  initial  letters  at  the  beginning  of 
paragraphs  are  of  red  or  blue  colour ;  and  the 
rubrics,  or  contents  of  chapters,  are  in  red.  The 
writing  is  of  the  latter  end  of  the  thirteenth 
century,  or,  at  lateft,  of  the  beginning  of  the 
fourteenth  century. 

The  volume,  of  which  the  "  Vita  Haroldi " 
forms  the  firft  article,  contains  feveral  other 
treatifes,  written  by  the  fame  fcribe,  which  have 
been  difturbed  at  fome  time  from  their  original 
order  of  production,  and  other  works  have  been 
introduced,  although  they  have  no  connection 
with  Waltham.  The  Waltham  treatifes  are 
numbered  by  the  fcribe  in  numerical  order,  fo  that 
we  can  readily  reconftruct  the  arrangement  of  the 
volume  when  it  repofed  upon  the  quiet  fhelves  of 
the  fcriptorium  of  that  great  monaftery.  The 
fubjoined  table  mows  the  contents  of  the  work : 


Introduction.  vii 

Numeration  Numeration                                                                                       Folio 

of  the  of  the 

Waltham  Harley 

Library.  Library. 

.1.  (i)      Vita  Haroldi         ...  1-24 

.a.  (2)       Ifta  quae  fecuntur  .  .  . 

deficiunt  in  Libro 
de  Inventione 
Crucis  noftre  de 
Waltham,  etc.  ...  25-30 

.5.  Lift  of  reliques 

brought  by  Harold 
to  Waltham  Ab- 
bey, etc.  (Lat.)  ...  31-35^ 

.6.  Miracles  performed 

by  the  wood  of 
the  Holy  Crofs  at 
the  altar  of  St. 
John  the  Evange- 
lift,  etc.  (Lat.)  ...  35^-38 

•A-  Verfes  on  Waltham 

Abbey ;  Names  of 
the  Abbots,  etc.; 
Vifions,  etc.  (Lat. 
and  French)  ...  38-42 

.8.  A  tracl  on  the  In- 
vention of  the 
Holy  Crofs  of 
Waltham  ...  43-62 

*(3)      A  fhort  chronicle  of 
England    from 

*  Numbers  3  to  7  have  been  added  to  the  volume ; 
they  are  not  of  the  fame  fize,  and  are  of  later  date.  There 
is  no  evidence  connecting  them  with  Waltham. 


viii  Introduction. 

Numeration  Numeration                                                                                Folio 

of  the  of  the 

Waltham  Harley 

Library.  Library. 

1066      to      1128 

(Lat.) 63-66 

*(4)      Life  of  St.  Brandan 

(Lat.) 67-75^ 

*l(5)  Henry  of  Saltrey's 
"  Purgatory  of  St. 
Patrick  "(Z-0'.)...  75^-82 

*(6)  Life  of  Tungal, 
Bifhop  of  Cafhel 
(Lat.) 82-89^ 

*  (7)      ThreeVifionsofHell, 

etc.  (Lat.)         ...         89^-92 
.2.  (8)      Meditation    of    St. 

Bonaventura, 
Minifter  -  General 
of    the    Minorite 
Friars  (Lat.)     ...         94-114 
.3.  Philofophical    treat- 

ifes  on  fobriety ; 
old  age, etc.  (Lat.)  1 14^-1 16/> 
(9)  Verfes  on  "  Quid  eft 
Femina."  This, 
although  made  a 
feparate  article,  in 
the  Harley  cata- 
logue, is  part  of 
the  old  numera- 
tion 3.  It  ends 
abruptly  at  the 
bottom  of  the  page  116^-117 


I 


Introduction.  ix 

Numeration  Numeration                                                                                Folio 

of  the  of  the 

Waltham  Harley 

Library.  Library, 

*(io)  "  Martilogium  fanc- 
torum  in  Anglia." 
A  later  trad:  on 
the  burial-places 
of  Englifh  faints 
(Lat.) 118-128 

*(n)  A  calendar  of  the 
Saints'  days  and 
feftivals,  between 
two  fly-leaves,  from 
a  fervice  book 
(Lat.) 129-135 

II.  HISTORY  OF  THE  MANUSCRIPT. 

Of  the  authorfhip  of  this  early  tale  (whether 
true  or  legendary  we  may  never  know)  nothing 
is  known  for  certain.  Internal  evidences  point  to 
the  probability  that  it  was  compofed  about  a 
hundred  and  fifty  years  after  the  battle  of  Haftings. 
Sir  Thomas  DufFus  Hardy  (whofe  account  of  the 
Codex  is  given  in  his  "  Defcriptive  Catalogue  of 
Manufcripts  relating  to  the  Early  Hiftory  of  Great 
Britain,"  vol.  i.,  pp.  668-671)  ftates  that  in  his 
opinion  "there  is  probably  fome  truth  in  this 
curious  narrative,  but  its  errors  are  great  and 
numerous.  It  is,  however,  known  from  good 
evidence  that  there  was  a  report  in  circulation  at 
an  early  period  that  Harold  had  efcaped  from  the 

*  Thefe  two  articles  have  never  belonged  to  the  Waltham 
MS. 


x  Introduction. 

(laughter  at  Haftings ;"  and  he  refers  to  Brompton,1 
Knyghton,2  jElred  of  Rievaulx,3  and  Giraldus 
Cambrenfis,4  thofe  who  are  curious  to  know  more 
on  this  fubject.  It  is  unneceffary  to  purfue  this 
afpect  of  the  fubject  on  this  occafion,  for  the  object 
in  view  is  not  to  theorize  upon  a  matter  which, 
after  all  that  can  be  faid  on  both  fides,  muft  yet 
remain  unfolved.  The  endeavour  of  the  prefent 
work  is  to  prefent  to  the  reader,  in  a  convenient 
form,  a  text  carefully  collated  from  the  only 
manufcript  known  to  exift  at  the  prefent  time, 
with  a  tranflation  appended  to  it  (as  literal  as  the 
remarkable  ftyle  and  phrafeology,  obfcure,  and  in 
many  places  abfolutely  unintelligible,  as  it  is,  will 
allow  it  to  be,  but  yet  not  flavifhly  clofe  fo  as  to 
be  uninterefting  to  the  general  reader),  for  the  ufe 
of  thofe  who  cannot  read  it  in  the  original  Latin 
in  which  it  is  compofed. 

From  what  religious  houfe  the  Manufcript 
pafled  ultimately  into  the  hands  of  the  great 
collector  of  the  Harley  Library  is  not,  indeed, 
difficult  to  conjecture. 

Here,  again,  Sir  Thomas  D.  Hardy  advances  a 
feet  which  is  highly  probable.  That  learned 
palaeographer  confiders  that  the  compofition  was 
written  apparently  with  the  object  of  proving  that 
Harold  was  not  buried  at  Waltham,  the  traditional 
place  of  his  fepulture,  which,  indeed,  made  that 
great  Houfe  of  Secular  Canons  rich  and  famous  in 
the  annals  of  Britifh  Monaftiqifm.  Now,  as  there 

1  Chronicle,  col.  961.  8  Col.  2342. 

8  P.  394-  4  P.  874- 


Introduction.  xi 

is  little  doubt  that  the  work  itfelf  was  compofed, 
and  certainly  as  far  as  the  prefent  manufcript  is 
concerned,  no  doubt  at  all  that  it  was  tranfcribed, 
in  the  Abbey  of  Waltham,  it  is  difficult  to  con- 
ceive any  means  for  accounting  for  the  apparent 
anomaly  of  an  eftablimment  which  owed  its  prof- 
perity,  in  a  vital  degree,  to  the  pious  fentiments 
which  cluftered  around  the  fanctified  fepulchre  of 
the  unfortunate  King,  caufing  a  tranfcript,  or  per- 
haps more  than  one,  to  be  made  of  a  treatife 
founded  upon  a  fact,  and  profefTmg  to  prove  a 
fact,  which,  if  generally  accepted,  would  have 
utterly  deftroyed  the  cultus  of  the  departed 
monarch  on  which  the  flouriming  condition  of  the 
Abbey  both  morally  and  financially  depended. 

Hardy,  confcious  of  this  difficulty,  fuggefts  that 
the  authormip  of  this  work — here  defignated  by 
him  as  "  little  elfe  than  an  hiftorical  romance  " — 
muft  be  attributed  to  "  one  of  the  fecular  canons 
who  had  been  expelled  'from  that  eftablimment, 
and  with  the  intention  of  robbing  it  of  the  honour 
of  holding  the  remains  of  its  founder."  But  when 
we  come  to  examine  the  theory  thus  advanced,  it 
falls  to  the  ground,  for  even  if  we  admit  the  fug- 
geftion  of  authormip  at  the  date  to  which  he  fays 
internal  evidence  points — viz.,  one  hundred  and 
fifty  years  after  the  battle  of  Haftings,  A.D.  1066  + 
i5O  =  A.D.  1216,  as  tolerably  accurate,1 — can  we 
poflibly  admit  that,  after  giving  the  manufcript  a 

1  The  probability  of  this  date  is  borne  out  in  feveral 
paflages  to  which  footnotes  are  given  in  the  places  where  they 
occur. 


xii  Introduction. 

place  in  the  Jc riptorium  or  library  of  the  Abbey 
for  nearly  two  hundred  years,  during  which  time 
every  inmate  would  have  conftant  accefs  to  a  work 
which  could  not  fail  to  aroufe  his  intereft  and 
excite  his  critical  comments,  if  not  to  make  his 
faith  in  the  orthodox  ftory  of  his  founder's 
fortunes,  the  authorities  of  that  inftitution  would 
permit  a  tranfcript  fuch  as  this  undoubtedly  is,  an 
unpolimed,  almoft,  we  may  fay,  an  unconnected 
copy  to  be  made  about  the  beginning  of  the  four- 
teenth century? 

III.  NOTICE  OF  THE  HISTORICAL  POINTS  ; 

AND    OF   THE    TRANSLATION. 

In  this  unique  MS.,  which  has  been  carefully 
collated  for  the  prefs,  there  are  few  points  to 
which  the  attention  of  the  reader  may  conve- 
niently be  directed  here.  The  fimple  e  is  ufed  in 
all  cafes  for  the  <£  or  ce  of  ftandard  Latin  ortho- 
graphy ;  b  is  occafionally  added  to  fuch  words  as 
abundo,  where  the  afpirate  is  manifeftly  an  error, 
its  addition,  no  doubt,  marking  the  peculiar  pro- 
nunciation of  Latin  by  our  infular  fcholars  at  the 
time  when  this  manufcript  was  prepared.  Another 
interefting  deviation  from  the  claflical  form,  but 
one  which  is  very  reprefentative  of  the  early 
mediaeval  period,  is  the  ufe  of  the  forms  reicio^ 
eicio,  etc.,  for  rejicio,  ejicio,  etc.,  where  the  j  is 
eliminated  from  its  proper  place  between  two 
vowels.  Set  is  ufed  generally  for  Sed. 

The   punctuation  is  peculiar:  no  rules  appear 


Introduction.  xiii 

to  have  guided  the  compofer,  who  puts  a  point  (.), 
the  equivalent  of  our  comma  (,),  in  many  places 
where  we  mould  certainly  not  ufe  any  ftop ;  the 
colon  (:)  is  alfo  frequently  placed  dividing  words 
from  each  other  in  paflages  where  the  modern 
ideas  of  punctuation  would  not  allow  fuch  a 
practice.  The  comma  and  the  femicolon  are  un- 
known ;  but  the  inverted  femicolon  (i)  is  occa- 
fionally  ufed,  much  more  fparingly  than  the  point 
and  the  colon,  in  places  where  we  mould  expect  to 
fee  the  femicolon  or  comma. 

The  text  in  the  following  pages  reprefents  the 
actual  reading  of  the  MS.  I  have  preferred  to 
retain  even  manifeft  errors  in  this  text  rather  than 
attempt  to  explain  them  by  any  alteration.  Moft 
of  thefe]  errors,  after  all,  eafily  explain  themfelves. 
The  footnotes  are  marked  H.,  to  mow  that  the 
readings  are  thofe  of  this  Harley  Manufcript. 
The  collations  are : 

(i.)  With  the  text,  printed  by  M.  Francifque 
Michel  in  his  Chroniques  Anglo-Normandes ',  recueil 
d'Extraits  et  d'Ecrits  relatifs  a  rHiftoire  de 
Normandie  et  d'Angleterre,  8vo.,  Rouen,  1835, 
Tome  ii.,  pp.  143-222. 

The  text  of  chapters  viii.  and  xii.  are  omitted 
by  M.  Michel,  whofe  text  is  otherwife  fairly 
accurate  and  faithful.  Where  the  readings  of 
this  edition  are  quoted  in  my  footnotes,  they  are 
diftinguifhed  by  the  letter  M. 

(ii.)  With  a  very  poorly  edited  copy  of  the 
above  text  in  the  Cbroniques,  by  Rev.  Dr.  Giles, 
of  C.  C.  C.  Oxford,  in  his  Vita  Quorundam 


xiv  Introduction. 

Anglo-Saxonum,  "  Original  Lives  of  Anglo-Saxons 
and  others  who  lived  before  the  Conqueft."  This 
work,  which  was  printed  and  publifhed  for  the 
Caxton  Society  by  J.  RufTell  Smith,  1854,  is  now 
out  of  print.  The  remarkable  peculiarities  which 
the  editor  evinced  in  abfurdly  endeavouring  to 
reduce  the  orthography  of  the  manuscript  to  what 
he  fancied  was  a  claflical  ftandard,  his  carelelThefs 
in  failing  to  confult  the  text  of  the  MS.  where  the 
accuracy  of  the  text  of  the  Chroniques  was  doubtful, 
and  the  inaccuracies  T  with  which  his  work  abounds 
— culminating  in  his  ludicrous  footnote  concerning 
his  inability  to  point  to .  the  identification  of  a 
well-known  locality  in  Shropfhire — combine  to 
render  the  text  he  gives  in  the  Vita  abfolutely 
ufeless  for  purpofes  of  critical  examination  or  for 
quotation.  I  have  collated  a  large  number  of 
thefe  numerous  departures  from  the  true  reading 
of  the  MS.  in  footnotes  diftinguifhed  by  the 
letter  G. 

The  tranflation  of  this  manuscript  into  Englifh 
is  here,  as  has  been  faid  before,  for  the  firft  time 
attempted.  And  here  I  have  to  thank  my  col- 
league, Mr.  I.  H.  Jeayes,  for  considerable  afliftance 
in  the  work.  The  peculiar  ftyle  and  diction,  in- 
volved and  obfcure  as  it  is  almoit  throughout 
the  work  (except  in  a  few  narrative  pafTages 
where  the  author  condefcends  to  write  in  a  lucid 
and  fuccincT:  manner),  occasionally  takes  fuch 

1  The  firft  word  of  his  title,  Vita  for  Vit<e,  fhows  the  fame 
carcleflhefs  which  runs  through  the  whole  of  the  work. 


Introduction.  xv 

wandering  flights  of  fancy  that,  even  if  we  accept 
the  readings  of  the  fcribe  who  made  this  Harley 
MS.  as  always  correct — a  fact  which  is  by  no 
means  fure,  for  no  fecond  copy  is  extant  with 
which  to  compare  them — it  is  almoft  impoflible  to 
divine  what  the  author  wifhed  to  intimate  to  his 
hearers  and  readers,  veiled  and  hidden  in  fentences 
of  great  length,  crowded  with  "  fefquipedalian 
words,"  and  overflowing  with  that  peculiar  charac- 
teriftic  of  antithesis  which  the  Anglo-Saxon  and 
early  Englifh  literary  man  fo  ftrongly  affected. 

W.  DE  GRAY  BIRCH. 

December,  1884. 


VITA  HAROLDI  REGIS. 


Incipit  Prologus  in  vita  vtri  venerabilis  Haroldi 
quondam  Anglorum  regis. 

[ICUT  federis  tabernaculi  fub  Moyfe  .  MS  Hari. 

.    .        377°«  '•  *• 

ut  templi  fub  Salomone  Dominici  . 
divine  commendant  littere  conftruc- 
tores :  ita  et  eos  profecuntur  laudi- 
qui  devocione  prona  offerre  aut  preparare 
conftruccioni  neceflaria :  fideliter  ftuduerunt.  Apud 
Neemiam1  qui  deriferunt  edificantes  inprecacione 
terribili  percelluntur.  Reedificatores  lerufalem  . 
titulis  ab  Hefdra  perpetuis  afcripti :  nominis  et 
operis  fui  perhennem  pofteris  memoriam  confecra- 
runt.  Hujufmodi  confideracio  ad  ferendum  quale- 
cunque  fuffragium  operi  fandlo  in  quo  defudatis 
patres  reverendi  tenuem  licet  cenfu  et  viribus  im- 
becillem  parvitatem  meam :  vehementer  vere  fateor 
incitavit.  Accedit  ftimulo  huic  calcarium  infuper 
vice  jam  ultro  currenti  .  nine  fraterna  cum  arnica 
fuafione  poftulacio  .  inde  cum  paterna  juflione 
follicita  commonicio.  Sencio  quidem  laboris 
plenum  .  fet  mercede  fpero  refertum  .  et  quod  vefter 
1  Nehem.  vi. 


4  Vita  Haroldi  Regis. 

nutus  injungit  .  et  quod  nofter  animus  geftit. 
Expetendus  autem  fummoque  nifu  cenfetur  am- 
plectendus  modici  fudor  temporis  .  quo  non  exigui 
et  labentis  evi  celebritas:  immo  laudis  et  glorie  eo 
manfure  quo  eterne  decus  et  fplendor  optinetur. 
Ceterum  quovis  pro  labore  aut  opere  .  laudis  tranfi- 
torie  expetifle  mercedem  :  operam  perdidifie  eft  et 
impenfam.  Non  folum  autem  fed  nee  nullatenus 
expetite  ultro  tamen  ingefte  adquievifle  favoris 
illecebre  interni  teftis  et  eterni  judicis  feipfum 
retribucione  et  laude  privafle  eft.  Extat  enim  de 
ejufmodi :  ejufdem  diffinicio  hunc  habens  modum : 
Amen1  dico  vobis :  receperunt  mercedem  fuam. 

Jubet  igitur  ac  petit  auctoritas  paterna  .  et 
fraterna  caritas  veftra  quatinus  opus  egregium 
quod  ceptum  excellenter  decenterque  provectum  . 
laudabilem2  inftanter  urgetis  ad  terminum  .  fump- 
tibus  invigilem  hinc  inde  aflumptis  promovere .  ne 
forte  piis  defint  o[peri]bus  copie  neceflarie  ad  hoc 
perficiendum.  Ex  variis  nempe  patrum  fcriptis 
volumen  infigne  in  modulum  unius  libri  com- 
pactum  .  ad  laudem  et  de  laude  gloriofe  ac  deifice 
crucis  operiofius  elaboratum  geftis  memorabilibus3 
r  ib.  fundatoris  veftri4  .  cujus  memoria  in  benedictione 

eft  .  cupitis  infigniri  .  talique  ut  ita  dicatur 
celeumate  laborem  votivum  confummari.  Lauda- 
bile  procul  dubio  quia  devotum  .  quia  providum 
hac  in  parte:  fanctitatis  veftre  defiderium.  Eft 
quidem  devocionis  nee  indebite  quod  tanti  viri 
magnalia  nafciture  preoptatis  pofteritati  litterarum 

1  Matt.  vi.  2,  5.  2  H. ;  laudabile,  G.M. 

8  H.M.  ;  memorabilibus,  G.          4  H.M.  ;  noftri,  G. 


Vita  Haroldi  Regis.  5 

indiciis  fideliter  aflignare.  Eo  quippe  juris  tenore 
peculiarem  patronum  et  perpetuum  nutritorem 
veftrum  debitis  tenemini  virtutum  fuarum  pre- 
coniis  illuftrare  .  quo  crimini  poterat  ingratitudinis 
non  oblique  aflcribi :  (\  promeritos1  laudum  ipfius 
titulos  .  editui  fui  et  alumpni  defidiofo  filencio 
pofteris  furarentur.  Providencie  nichilominus  com- 
petentis  eft  quod  laudibus  fancte  crucis  ipfius 
cultoris  devotiflimi  laudes  decernitis  fubrogandas. 
Crucis  fancte  ex  toto  nimirum  accedit  glorie  quic- 
quid  in  fervi  fui  meritis  et  virtutibus:  enituit 
commendabile. 

Inter  hec  quam  mee  pariter  incumbat  modicitati 
animo  magno  et  volenti  quicquid  vires  fuggefferint 
immo  quicquid  gratia  celeftis  indulferit  ad  im- 
pendia  tarn  boni  operis  haut2  fegniter  corrogare 
quis  nefciat  ?  Veftrum  fiquidem  immo  Haroldi 
veftri  quinimmo  fancte  utrorumque  crucis  jamdiu 
panem  comedens  ociofus  .  quo  veftros  erga  me 
fereniores  vultus  afpicio :  eo  in  me  feveriorem 
illorum  fenfuram3  pertimefcere  jure  debeo  .  fi  tantis 
quod  abfit  beneficiis  non  dixerim  ingratum  fet4 
inofficiofum  .  tarn  gratis  quam  graciofe  exhibitum : 
contingat  inveniri.  Geram  igitur  morem  veftris 
pro  pofTe  defideriis  geram  quam  potero  vicem 
beneficiis :  ea  tamen  racione  quatinus  et  vos  v.eftra 
michi  pacta  fervetis.  Tenorem  fcilicet  fcribendorum 
diligentius  examinetis  .  examinata  tantummodo 
approbetis  :  aut  emendetis.  Sermonis  quoque 

1  Pro  meritos,  MS.,  with  mark  by  a  late  hand  to  join  the 
words.  2  H.M. ;  haud,  G. 

8  Sic  MS. ;  cenfuram,  G.          4  Sed,  G. 


6  Vita  Haroldi  Regis. 

reicientes1  minus  elimati  rufticitatem  .  fententiam 
fi  videbitur  refervetis2  eleganciori  ut  dignum  eft 
ftilo  explicandam.  Nee  enim  defunt  largiente 
Domino  cetui  fanditatis  veftre  Befeleelis3  .  Ooliab4 . 
feu  Hyram5  peritiflimi  fuccefTores  .  qui  oblatam 
in  donaria  Domini  a  fupplici  vulgo  rudem 
materiam  .  locis  et  ufibus  congruentibus  noverint 
adaptare.  Noverint  quoque  arte  magiftra  prout 
res  exigit  fingula  queque  fubtilius  expolire  . 
refecare  fuperflua  informia  componere:  deformia 
f.  2.  exornare.  Mee  vero  tantifper  intererit  impericie  . 

aptiorem  fabrice  materiam  a  montibus  excifam  . 
et  ratibus  impofitam  .  ad  planiora  deducere.  Quod 
egifle  putabor  fi  a  prifcorum  libris  .  fi  a  fedulis6 
modernorum  .  fi  a  quorumdam  fidelium  rela- 
cionibus  veris  .  paflim  collegia:  hujus  libelli  apicibus 

1  Rejicientes,  G.  2  Referventes,  G. 

3  Befeleel  I.  anno  mundi  2544  .  ante  Jefum  Chriftum  1510  . 
films   Uri  et    Marie  fororis   Moyfis  .  de    tribu    Juda.      Hunc 
ipfum  elegit  Dominus  cum  Ooliab  .  de  tribu  Dan  .  quos  imple- 
vit  fpiritu  Dei  .  fapientia  et  intelligentia  .  et  fcientia  in  omni 
opere  ad  excogitandum  quidquid  fabrefieri  poterat  ex  auro  et 
argento  .  et  ere  .  marmore  et  gemmis  .  et  diverfitate  lignorum  . 
ad  edificandum  tabernaculum  fcederis  .  arcam  teftimonii  .  pro- 
pitiatorium   .   et   cunfta  vafa  tabernaculi.      (F.  P.   Dutripon, 
'  Concordantiae,'  Paris,  1844,  p.  157.)  Befeleel's  name  occurs  in 
Exod.  xxxi.  2  ;  xxxv.  30  ;  xxxvi.   I  ;  xxxvii.  I  ;  xxxviii.  22  ; 
I  Par.  ii.  20  ;  2  Par.  i.  5. 

4  Ooliab  .  filius  Achifamech  a  tribu  Dan.     Artifex  a  Deo 
vocatus  .  fpirituque  Sapientie  et  intelligence  impletus  ad  edi- 
ficationem  tabernaculi  una  cum  Befeleel.     (Dutripon,  ut  fupra, 
p.  983.)    Ooliab  occurs  in  Exod.  xxxi.  6  ;  xxxv.  34  ;  xxxvi.  I  ; 
xxxviii.  23. 

8  Hiram  .  artifex  erarius  plenus  fapientia,  etc.  (Dutripon, 
ut  fupra,  p.  607.)  Hiram  occurs  by  name  in  3  Reg.  vii.  13  ; 
xl.  45  ;  2  Par.  ii.  13  ;  iv.  1 1,  16. 

0  H.M.;  fchedulis,  G. 


Vita  Haroldi  Regis.  j 

que  injungitis  tradidero:  fimplicium  noticie  pro- 
futura.  Oracionum  autem  veftrarum  aura  lenis  et 
placida  fragilem  eloquii  noftri  cimbam  crucis 
vexillo  pro  velo  .  et  jufti  fui  precibus  pro  am- 
pluftribus1  inftrudam:  in  portum  fecundi  litoris 
perducat.  Amen. 

1  Ampliis  tribus.  M. ;  apluftribus,  G. 

EXPLICIT  PROLOGUS. 


INCIPIUNT  CAPITULA. 

PRIMUM.  Quod  fpeculum  ferenitatis  et  clemende 
eluceat  in  geftis  regis  Haroldi.  Quod  frater  regine 
fuit  .  quam  fanctus  duxit  Edwardus.  Qualiter 
pater  ejus  Godwinus  dolum  eludens  Cnutonis 
regis  .  fororem  ipfius  accepit  in  uxorem  .  et  quod 
de  viciis  nutritorum  fuorum  Haroldus  infigniter 
triumphaverit. 

II.  Quod  Wallia  per  Haroldum  pene  deleta  fit : 
et   qualiter  ipfe   per  virtutem   Sancte   Crucis   de 
Waltham  de  paralifi1  convaluerit. 

III.  Quomodo    ecclefiam   Sancte   Crucis   apud 
Waltham  conftruxerit  .  ditaverit .  ornaverit  .  atque 
ordinaverit  Haroldus .  et  quod  Henricus  Anglorum 
rex  amotis  fecularibus  ipfum  locum  canonicis  in- 
fignivit  regularibus. 

IV.  Quod  divinitus  difpofitum  fuit  ut  homo  ifte 
in  regem  erigeretur  .  et  victis  hoftibus  ab  eo :  ab 
aliis  ipfe  victus  a  regno  deiceretur  .  et  de  anacho- 
rita  valde  religiofo  qui  minifter  ipfius  jam  folitarii 
fuerat. 

V.  Quod  inter  vulneratores  feminecem  inven- 
tum  et  Wintoniam  perduclum  .  mulier   quedam 

1  H.M.  ;  paralyfi,  G. 


Vita  Haroldi  Regis.  9 

Saracena  biennio  ibidem  delitefcentem  fanaverit 
Haroldum  .  et  quod  pro  contrahendis  contra 
Normannos  auxiliis  .  Saxones  Dacofque  expetierit 
nilque  profecerit. 

VI.  Quod  in  fe  tandem  idem  reverfus  intellex- 
erit   Deum   fibi    in   via   mundi   adverfari  .   unde 
Chrifti  fe  conformans  cruci  ut  hoftem  antiquum 
melius  triumpharet  gaudet  fe  ab  hominibus  fuifle 
fuperatum. 

VII.  Quod  pro  expeciendis1  fanctorum  fuffragiis 
longam    inierit   peregrinacionem :    et  quod    ante- 
quam  regnum  habuiflet  .  fanctorum  limina  apofto- 
lorum  adierit. 

VIII.  Ammiracio2  fcriptoris  cum  exclamacione 
brevi  fuper  benignitate  Dei   qua  fit  ut  etiam  pec- 
cata  eleciorum :  ipfis  cooperentur  in  bonum. 

No  NUM.  Quod  de  peccato  Haroldi  multa  di-f>2bt 
cuntur  a  multis :  et  de  quercu  fecus  Rothomagum 
fub   qua  juraverat    .    que    corticem    exuta  manet 
ufque  in  prefens. 

X.  Satiffaccio  quorundam  pro  Haroldo  .  qua 
eum  de  perjurio  excufantes  .  Domino  favente  et 
fandlo  connivente  Edwardo  ipfum  regnafle  affir- 
mant  .  et  de  vifione  Abbatis  Elfini  .  qua  victorem 
Norwagicorum  ipfum  fore  prenunciavit  fanclus 
Edwardus. 

UNDECIMUM.  De  cruce  fancta  admirabilis  quo- 
rum3 relacio  que  regi  Haroldo  feftinanti  ad  pre- 
lium  caput  perhibetur  inclinafTe  et  alia  quedam 
fatis  de  ipfa  cruce  ftupenda  miracula  certiflime 
approbata. 

XII.  Diverforum  diverfa  interpretacio  fuper 
predictis  fignis  crucis  fe  inclinantis  et  quercus  are- 
facte  .  et  quod  Haroldus  fe  ipfum  bene  judicando 

1  H.M. ;  expetendis,  G.  2  H.M.';  Admiratio,  G. 

3  H.M.  ;  quorundam,  G. 


io  Vita  Haroldi  Regis. 

judicium  prevenerit  divinum  et  non  formidet 
humanum. 

XIII.  Quod  multis  in  peregre1  annis  exaclis2 
ad  Angliam  ob  exercitandam  pacienciam  et  benig- 
nitatem  Haroldus  rediens  Chriftianum  fe  vocitari 
fecerit  .  decenniumque  in  rupe  quadam  expleverit 
folitarie  vivens  .  et  in  hujus  temporis  antichriftos 
compendiofa  inveccio. 

XIIII.  Quod  in  confinio  Wallencium3  poft- 
modum  Haroldus  pluribus  in  locis  tempore  multo 
degens  .  pacienter  eorum  frequencius  tulerit  af- 
fultus  .  faciem  velans  panno  .  et  nomen  nomine 
alio  .  ne  aliquatenus  cognofceretur  quod  tandem 
ad  ejus  veneracionem  converfa  eft  immanitas  per- 
fecutorum.4 

XV.  Quod  vir  Domini  Haroldus  fugit   obfe- 
quentes   quos   adierat    et    diu    fuftinuerat    perfe- 
quentes  .  et  quod  voce  de  celo  lapfa  defignatus  fit 
ei  locus  paufacionis  fue  .  et  quod  femiplenis  ver- 
borum  indiciis  .  fcifcitantibus    innuerit    fe   fuiffe 
Haroldum  et  quod  fcripto  fucceflbris  fui  plenius 
oftendetur  inferius  hujus  rei  certitudo. 

XVI.  Monetur    lector    ne     fpernat    Jeccionem 
quam  fentit  a  non  nullorum5  opinionibus  difcre- 
pare  .  et  de  triplici  occafione  contraria  exiftiman- 
cium    fuper    materia    prefenti    .    et    de   Willelmi 
Melduneliis6  circa  Haroldi  fata  errore  triformi. 

XVII.  Quid    accident   Waltammenfibus7    circa 


1  Inperegre,  M.G. 

2  H.M.  ;  extraftis,  G.  »  H.M.  ;  Wallenfium,  G. 

4  H.M.  ;  perfequutorum,  G. 

5  H.  ;  nonnullorum,  M.G. 

«  H.M.  ;  Melduncnfis,  rightly,  G. 

7  H.M.  ;  Walthammcnfibus,  G.  The  fcribe  of  the  Harley 
MS.  has  written  this  word  thus,  "Walta  menfibus,"  clearly 
proving  that  he  did  not  undcrftand  what  he  was  writing. 


Vita  Haroldi  Regis.  1 1 

patroni   fui   fepulturam   pie   follicitis  fed  mulieris 
cujufdam  errore  delufis. 

XVIII.  Quid    frater    Haroldi    Gurta    nomine  f.  3. 
Abbati  Waltero  vel  aliis  refponderit  fuper  fratris 
fui  requifitus  cineribus  vel  fepultura. 

XIX.  Quod  viri  Dei  fuccefibr  de  geftis  Haroldi 
beatiflimi  vera  fcribens  .  caufas  geftorum   minus 
congrue  .  bis  aflignaverit  .  et  prime  aflignacionis 
difcuflio  .  et  competens  prolatis  fentenciarum  divi- 
ciarum1  .  teftimoniis  ejufdem  improbacio. 

XX.  Secunde  aflignacionis  infirmacio  et  fcrip- 
toris   ad  ledorem    deprecacio    et   de    difficultate 
materiam    refarciendi   a   prifcis  fcriptoribus   varie 
laceratam. 

1  Diverfarum,  M.G. 


EXPLICIUNT  CAPITULA. 


Quod  fpeculum  Jerenitatis  et  clemencie  Dei  elu- 
ceat  in  geftis  regis  Haro\T\di.1  Quod f rater  regine 
fuit  quam  Janftus  duxit  Edwardus.  Qjialiter 
pater  ejus  Godwinus  dolum  eludens  Cnutonis  regis 
Jororem  ipfius  accepit  in  uxorem  .  et  quod  de  viciis 
nutritorum  Juorum  Haroldus  infigniter  trium- 
ph aver  it. 

INCIPIT  VITA    SERVI    DEI   HARO[L]DP. 
QUONDAM  REGIS  .  ANGLORUM. 

CAPITULUM  I. 

|LLUSTRISSIMI  vere  quia  regis  legi- 
timi  Haroldi  jam  rite  ac  legitime 
coronati  gefta  recenfere  .  nichil2  aliud 
eft  quam  divine  ferenitatis  fimul  et 
clemencie  quafi  fpeculum  quoddam  lucidiflimum 
piis  mentibus  exhibere.  Quod  ut  clareat  mani- 
feftius:  ipfius  immundana3  feu  in  Chrifti  milicia 
primordium  progreflum  et  terminum  dilucide 
curabimus  fummatimque  legentibus  intimare.  Vere 

1  G. ;  Harodi,  H.     Haro[l]di,  M. 

2  H.M.;  Nihil,  G. ;  and  fo  in  all  cafes  throughout  the  text. 
8  In  mundana,  M.G. 


Vita  Haroldi  Regis.  i  3 

autem  regem  iJluftriflimum  legittimeque1  hunc 
dixerimus  coronatum  .  qui  fe  ipfum  bene  regendo 
illique  devotiflime  cui  fervire  regnare  eft  obfe- 
quendo:  coronam  adeptus  eft  primum  jufticie 
et  poftmodum  glorie  fempiterne.  Hunc  God- 
winus2  comes  potentiffimus  .  ex  forore  Cnutonis 
Anglorum  pariter  et  Dacorum  regis  habuit  filium 
fratrem  vero  regine  venerabilis  quam  rex  et  con- 
feflbr  fanctiffimus  duxerat  Edwardus.  Cujus  felici 
matrimonio  quamquam  citra  opus  juncta  fuerit 
maritale  utrifque  nimirum  permanentibus  in  per- 
petue  virginitatis  flore :  promocionis  tamen  multi- 
mode  caufa  fuit  paterne  familie.  Conftat  vero 

X 

1  H.M. ;  legitimeque,  G. 

2  It  will  be  ufeful  to  introduce  here  a  table  fhowing  the 
pedigree  of  Harold,  Edward  the  ConfefTor,  and  William  the 
Conqueror,  and  their  relationfhip  with  each  other. 

Richard  L,  'Sans-Peur,' 
Duke  of  Normandy,  d.  996. 


Richard  II., 'Le    (2.)   in     ioi7,=Emma,=f={i,)in  ioi2,Ethel-  Godwin, 
Bon,' D.  of  Nor-    Canute,  K.  of    d.io54. 


mandy,  d.  1027.    England     and 
Denmark. 


red  II.,  K.  of  Earl  of 
England,  d.  Kent,  d. 
1016.  1053. 


Kicnara    i\.ooeri  i.,    ^.ureu, 
III.,  D.  'LeDiable,'  d.iO36. 

J1.1JWAKU,- 

'The  Con- 

—  £/UUU,      nAMUVU  11.,  - 

in  1044.  E.   of  Kent, 

of  Nor-  D.  of  Nor- 

feffor,'  K. 

K.    of  Eng- 

mandy,   mandy,  d. 

of     Eng- 

land 1066,  d. 

d.  1028,    1035. 

land,     a. 

1066. 

„          , 

1066. 

gyth. 


WILLIAM,  'The   Gurth.  God-    Ed-     Mag-  Ulf.  Har-  Gy-=Wladimir, 

Conqueror,'  win.  mund.  nus.  old.  tha.     fon  of  Ja- 

bom    1027,   D.  roflav, 

of      Normandy  Grand- 

1035,      K.      of  Duke  of 

England    1066,  Ruffia, 

d.  1087.  d.  1051. 


14  Vita  Haroldi  Regis. 

ipfius  genitorem  vel  ceterorum  quofdam  de  illius 
genere  .  turn1  prodicionis  turn1  et  aliorum  nota  faci- 
norum  infamatos2  graviter  fuifle. 

Hiis3  vero  mails  .  neceflitate  cavendi  imminentis 
exicii :   Godwinus  fe  primo  immifcuit  deinde  ulte- 
rius  evagatur.     Tuende  fiquidem  falutis  obtentu 
dolum  temptare4  compulfus  .  dum  femel  cedit  ad 
f.  3  b-  votum :  fraudibus  in  pofterum  minuende  felicitatis 

intuitu  licencius  nitebatur.  Dum  enim  prefatus 
rex  Dacie  diadema  Anglic  ufurpaflet :  cerneretque 
Godwinum  incredibili  aftucia  nee  minori  audacia 
preditum  fenfim  ad  fublimia  confcendere  timere 
cepit  homo  advena .  indigene  adolefcentis  viribus 
fimul  armatam  et  aftu  animofltatem.  Cujus  licet 
fibi  perneceflariam  in  multis  expertam  habuiflet 
induftriam :  quiddam  tamen  de  fpiritu  Saulis  mente 
concipiens  ereptorem  fuum  propugnatoremque 
ftrenuiflimum  dolo  perdere  cogitavit  .  quern  palam 
opprimere  nifi  per  invidiofam  maliciam  facile  non 
fuit.  Excogitato  igitur  confilio  Godwinum  quafi 
pro  arduis  regni  utriufque  negociis  mittit  in 
Daciam  .  tale  quid  fecum  mente  pertractans  .  Non 
fit  fuper  eum  manus  mea  ;  fed  fit  fuper  eum  manus 
Dacorum  .  cum5  igitur  jam  medium  equor  navi 
opulentiflimo  inftrucla  apparatu  fecaret ;  cepit  fuf- 
picio  juvenis  animum  vehemencius  titillare  .  fere- 
bat  namque  fignatas  regis  anulo  Jitteras  .  fingulis 
fcilicet  illius  terre  optimatibus  fingulas  .  quarum 

1  H.G. ;  tantum  .  .  .  tantum,  M. 

2  M.G.;  the  letters  ama  in  this^ord  written  in  modern  ink,  H. 
8  H.M. ;  His,  G.  4  H.M.;  tentare,  G. 

6  H.M. ;  Quum,  G  ;  and  fo  throughout  the  text  when  ufed 
as  a  conjunction. 


Vita  Haroldi  Regis.  15 

omnium  prorfus  nefciebat  fentencias.  Unius  igitur 
figillorum  cautus  effractor  ex  brevi  inclufo  fe  in 
brevi  agnofcit  capitali  dandum  fupplicio ;  fi  por- 
titoris  cum  ventum  fuerit  ad  portum  plenius 
fungatur  officio.  Tenor  enim  fcripture  hie  erat  . 
ut  quicumque  illius  feriem  primitus  advertifTet  . 
bajulum  ejus  Godwinum  nomine  capite  incon- 
tinent!1 mutilaret. 

Expalluit  novus  Urias  comperto  quod  fibi  a 
rege  parabatur  .  exicio  paratque  ut  paucis  utamur 
dolum  extimplo2  eludere  dolo  .  fecit  fie :  extractaf- 
que  a  ceris  fuis  fingulas  confregit  cartulas3  .  calli- 
daque  clerici  cujufdam  manu  reponit  recentes  . 
quarum  fumma  fuit  ut  Godwinum  fummo  univer- 
forum  tripudio  exceptum  .  regie  fororis  nupciis 
darent  .  nee  aliter  ei  quam  fibi  ft  adeflet  in  hiis4 
que  regia  exigebant  negocia  incunctanter  cuncti 
parerent.  Sic  regis  bono  regia  mutatur  fentencia  . 
fie  miles  milicie  mutat  ftipendia  .  fie  indebita  cedit 
pena  et  debita  bene  merito  accedit  gloria.  Sic 
denique  in  fratrem  recipit  quern  utilem  repperit 
rex  militem  .  quern  eciam  paulo  poft  fecit  confulem 
habuitque  pervigilem  in  reliquum  proviforem. 

Quo  tamen  eventu  Godwinus  in  Dacorum  plus f-  * 
quam  fatis  favorem  efrufus  .  gentis  fue  quampluri- 
bus  fiebat  infeftus.5     Non  nullos  quoque  de  femine 
regio   quorum   unus  frater    Sancti    Edwardi    fuit  Nota  de  EH- 

,    |  j'jv    r  J  wardo  et  God- 

dolo  perdidit  licque  non  modo  in  concives  .  immo  wino  Pas 
et  in  dominos  naturales  non  pauca  deliquit.  Verum  tempor 

1  H.M.G.;  for  incontinenter.         2  H.M. ;  extemplo,  G. 
3  H.M. ;  chartulas,  G.  4  H. ;  iis,  M.G. 

5  In  feftus,  H. 


1 6  Vita  Haroldi  Regis. 

de  hiis1  alias  qui  voluerit  plura  inquirat.  Quo2 
enim  ad  fufceptam  attinet  materiam  .  fatis  eft  iccirco 
nos  vel  compendiofe  ifta  prelibaffe  ne  inconfulte 
videremur  ilia  preterifie:  que  minus  intelligentes 
ad  fervi  Dei  Haroldi  contumeliam  novimus  inter- 
file .  cum  fanum  fapientes  hec  quam  maxime  ad 
ipfius  gloriam  videant  pertinere.  Qui  enim 
gratia  comitante  divina  vicium  vicit  quod  ut  ifti 
volunt  natura  inflixit  quod  convictus  inftituit : 
eo  utique  favorabilius  triumphavit  .  quo  et  hoc 
ipfum  quod  natus  .  quod  educatus  eft :  fuperando 
mutavit.  Nam  etfi  vicio  ipfe  quoque  ut  afieritur 
evo  adhuc  rudis  ceflifie  vifus  eft  .  a  natura  fimul  et 
nutritura  .  violenciam  paflus  eftimandus  eft.  Patet 
igitur  quia  operante  eo  qui  de  eadem  mafia  vas 
aliud  facit  in  honorem  .  aliud  in  contumeliam  .  id 
quoque  in  virtutis  Harpldo  verfum  eft  meritum  et 
Jaudis  preconium  quod  ei  ad  vituperium  ab  indodis 
fuerat  objectum.  Sic  rutilos  producit  .  fie  niveos3 
quafi  nutrit  rofarum  liliorumque:  fpina  flores  . 
quorum  prerogative  non  adimit  immo  adicit4  qua- 
Jitas  abjectior  ex  conforcio  cumulum  venuftatis. 

1  H.M. ;  his,  G.  2  H.M. ;  Quod,  G. 

3  H. ;  niveas,  M.G.  4  H.M. ;  adjicit,  G. 


Qjuod  Wallia  'per  Haroldum  pene  deleta  fit ;  et 
qualiter  ipfe  -per  virtutem  Sanfte  Crucis  de  Wal- 
tbam  de  paraliji1  convaluerit  ij 

[IRIBUS  autem  corporis  quantum  pre- 
ftiterit  quam  acer  et  ftrenuus  animis 
armifque  innotuerit:  fubacta  immo 
ad  internicionem2  per  Haroldum 
pene  deleta :  Wallia  eft  experta.  In  hiis3  quidem 
triumphis  .  vivente  adhuc  fancto  rege  Edwardo : 
infignis  enituit  .  Hiis  regi  et  regno  pacem  et  quie- 
tem  quam  fortiter  tarn  et  utiliter  adquifivit.  In- 
terea  dum  inter  coevos  probitate  et  potencia  major  . 
fummis  eciam  in  regno  proceribus  prelacior  efle 
videretur :  manus  omnipotentis  que  percutit  et 
medetur  carnem  iftius  gravi  percuilione  tetigit  . 
ut  fie  prefentibus  necnon4  et  futuris  anime  ipfius 
vulneribus  medelam  procuraret.  Paralifin5  vocant 
medici  genus  morbi  quo  corpus  hominis  attactum  Nota  de  M- 
debita  dedifcit  officia  .  obfequia  homini  derogat  j??J Mcdico< 
confueta.  Reddit  enim  fubito  partem  quam  in- 
vaferit  .  aut  corporis  totum :  ftupidum  torpens 

1  H.M. ;  paralyfi,  G.  a  H.M. ;  internecionem,  G. 

8  H.M. ;  his,  G.;  and  fo  always  throughout  this  text. 
4  H. ;  nee  non,  M.G.  5  H.M. ;  Paralyfm,  G. 


1 8  Vita  Haroldi  Regis. 

et  quafi  emortuum.  Haroldus  hac  repente  tadhis 
ac  proftractus1  moleftia  ;  cum  ceteris  eflet  merori 
turn2  prefertim  regi:  fit  precipui  caufa  doloris. 
Hunc  enim  velut  quodam  prefagio  futurorum  pre 
ceteris  carum  habuit  et  dilectum ;  cum  ftirpis 
illius  quofdam  fufpectos  habuifTe  dicatur  aliqua- 
tenus  et  invifos.  Quod  fibi  penes  regem  fanctifli- 
mum  dileccionis  et  gracie  privilegium  non  affini- 
tatis  quamlibet  grata  propinquitas  non  probitatis 
non  induftrie  fingularis  quibus  erat  preditus  emi- 
nentia ;  immo  fola  celeftis  infpiracio  conciliate 
eftimatur.  Probabile  enim  fatis  eft  ad  gloriam  in 
hac  parte  Haroldi  quia  vir  Deo  plenus .  divinique  in 
multis  confilii  non  ignarus  eo  indulgencius3  ipfum 
amaverit  quo  perpetuum  in  celis  pocius  coheredem 
quam  in  terris  fibi  futurum  previdebat  momen- 
taneum  fucceflbrem.  Directi  igitur  regis  a  latere 
medici,  necnon  et  alii  atque  alii  prece  precioque 
hinc  inde  allecti  .  egrotum  ambiunt,  quod  ars  feu 
conjectura  fuggerit  exierunt4  .  fed  Omnipotentis 
manum  vires  hominum  ammovere5  non  poflunt. 
Pervenit  fama  triftior  ad  aures  Alemannorum  im- 
peratoris  .  qui  regi  Anglorum  affinitate  proxi- 
mus  .  dileccione  et  amicicia  erat  conjunctiflimus. 
Huic  medicus  quidam  nomine  Ailardus  fami- 
liaris  erat  .  quern  et  artis  fue  duplex  exercicium 
pericia  et  experiencia  multa  reddebat  probatiffi- 
mum  .  et  quod  pluris  eft  favor  divinus  in  pro- 
curanda  fofpitate  languencium :  exhibuit  graciofum. 

1  H.M. ;  proftratus,  G. 

2  H. ;  tantun,  M. ;  tantum,  G.       3  H.M. ;  diligentius,  G. 
4  H.M. ;  excierunt,  G.  5  H.M. ;  amovere,  G. 


Vita  Haroldi  Regis.  19 

Hunc  igitur  imperator  adhibendam1  ftrenuiflimo 
juveni  medelam:  regi  amantiflimo  celeriter  defti- 
navit.  Qui  ad  egrum  deductus  egritudinis  mate- 
riam  fagaciter  rimatus  curam  adhibuit  quam  potuit . 
fet2  in  ventum  omnis  cedit  opera:  ubi  hominis 
artificio  celeftis  opifex  molitur  adverfa. 

Ea  tempeftate  lapidea  crucifix!  regis  noftri  ymago3 
non  multis  ante  celitus  revelata  et  reperta  tempori- 
bus  .  et  ad  Waltham4  nutu  perlata  divino:  miris 
in  loco  virtutum  chorufcabat5  fignis.  Perpendens 
itaque  phificus6  nature  auctorem  naturalibus  artis 
fue  viribus  contraire  .  omnemque  inferioris  nature 
racionem  .  naturantis7  nature  prejudicio  funditus 
hebetari  ;  intellexit  protinus  hominem  verbere 
conftringi  virtutis  illius  de  cujus  manu  non  eft  qui 
poflit  eruere.  Qui  mox  ut  virum  decuit  fidelem  f.  5. 
et  prudentem  .  cui  manu  nequivit :  ore  non  diftulit 
remedium  procurare.  Nil  enim  moris  habens  falla- 
cium  mencienciumque  medicorum  opem  voluit  a  fe 
feparari .  quam  fenfit  jam :  per  fe  non  pofle  conferri. 
Nee  fuum  tamen  egrotum  reliquid8  defperatum, 
fet  a  fpe  vana  in  folidam  hunc  fpem  transferens . 
in  eo  fperare  qui  falus  eft  .  fperancium  in  fe 
fideliter  fuadebat.  A  quo  ut  ocius  optate  falutis 
gaudia  percipere  mereretur:  crucis  falutifere  ob- 

1  H.M. ;  ad  adhibendam,  G. 

2  H.M. ;  fed,  G.;   and  fo  always  throughout. 

3  H.M. ;  imago,  G. 

4  There  are  feveral  interefting  trafts  relating  to  the  crofs  at 
Waltham  in  the  fame  Harley  MS.  from  which  this  text  is  de- 
rived.    For  a  mould,  from  which  leaden  badges  of  the  Holy 
Crofs  were  caft,  fee  Journal  of  the  Britijb  Arcbteological  Affi- 
liation, vol.  xxix.  421;  cf.  xxx.  52. 

5  H.M. ;  corufcabat,  G.  6  H.M. •  phyficus,  G. 
7  H.M.;  naturantis,  omitted,  G.       8  H.M. ;  reliquit,  G. 


2o  Vita  Haroldi  Regis. 

fequiis  hunc  infiftere  .  votumque  illi  vovere  .  prout 
fibi  didtaret  interna  devocio :  falubriter  adhortatur. 
Languidus  vero  falutis  confilium  fano  percepit 
animo  .  mittitque  concito  ad  locum  ubi  crux  vir- 
tuofa  Celebris  radiabat:  exennia1  ingencia.  Sup- 
plicat  obnixius  loci  cuftodibus  falutaris  nimirum 
figni  peculiarius  cultui  mancipatis  .  quatinus  et 
criminum  veniam  et  dolorum  levamen  utriufque 
videlicet  hominis  fofpitatem  fedulis  fibi  dignentur 
precibus  optinere.2  Nee  defuit  in  longum  cle- 
mencia  falvatoris  falutem  a  fe  fide  non  fidla  poftu- 
lanti.  Mox  etenim  dolor  cum  languore  decrevit 
a  corpore  amor  vero  cum  devocione  circa  fancte 
crucis  obfequium  jam  convalefcenti  mirabiliter 
crefcebat  in  mente.  In  brevi  fiquidem  pleniflime 
redditus  fofpitati  .  quantum  medicine  qua3  con- 
valuerat  extiterit  devotus:  magnificus4  compro- 
bavit  operum  documentis.  Veniens  enim  ad  fanctam 
crucem  Waltamenfem5  falutaria  curacionis  fue 
vota  perfolvit  donaria  obtulit  preciofa  .  miniftris 
plurima  largitus  eft  .  fe  ipfum  gloriofe  crucis 
tutele  commendans  .  hancque  fublimius  honorare 
difponens :  letus  tandem6  a  loco  .  non  corde  rece- 
dens  fed  corpore :  domino  Regi  et  forori  regine  fe 
incolumen7  prefentavit.  Congratulatur  fratri  re- 
gina  .  rex  militi  congaudet :  univerfa  fimul  curia 
exultacione  feftiva  letatur.  Nee  quia  convaluit . 
fet  quia  celitus  receperat  fanitatem :  omnes  quidem 

1  H.M. ;  exenia,  G. 

2  H.M.;  obtinere,  G.         8  H.;  quam,  M.;  [per]  quam,  G. 
4  H.M. ;  magnificis,  G.       5  H.M. ;  Walthamienfem,  G. 

6  H. ;  tamen,  M.G.  7  H. ;  incolumem,  M.G. 


Vita  Haroldi  Regis.  21 

in  commune  .  plaudebant  fet  rex  ut  erat  fandtif- 
fimus  impenfius  gratulatur.  Geminata  fiquidem 
letitia  pre  ceteris  triumphabat  .  qui  et  Chrifti  de- 
lectabatur  virtutibus  tam  pia  exhibentis  et  devo- 
cionis1  fideique  profedtibus  pafcebatur  in  illis :  quos 
talium  exhibicio  in  amore  folidabat  ejufdem  piiiTmii 
Redemptoris. 

1  H. ;  dovocionis,  M. ;  devotionis,  G. 


f  5b  Quomodo  ecclefiam  Sanfte  Cruets  apud  Waltham 

conftruxerit  .  ditaverit  .  ornaverit  .  atque  ordina- 
vertt  Haroldus  et  .  quod  Henricus  Anglorum  rex 
amotis  fecularibus  locum  ipjius  Canonicis  in- 
Jignivit  regularibus.  .  .  .  .  iij. 

|  AM  vero  hunc  in  quo  vel  per  quern 
virtus  experta  .  et  oftenfa  virtutis 
prebuit  tam  multis  incentivum  nil 
aliud  cogitare  nil  loqui  perpenderes: 
nifi  qualiter  divinis  poflet  beneficiis  excellencius 
congruenciufque  refpondere  qualiter  honore  con- 
digno  falutis  adepte  gaudia  .  fancte  quiviflet  cruci 
compenfare.  Quo  impenfius  autem  ejus  intendebat 
cultui  et  infiftebat  decori  .  eo  fublimius  gracia  ilium 
celeftis  virtutum  et  devocionis  ditabat  incrementis. 
Qua  vir  nobilis  commercii  fpecie  magnopere  de- 
Je&atus  .  contendebat  inftancius  de  perceptis 
muneribus  gracias  exhibendo  beneficia  mereri 
pociora.  Intuetur  preterea  quia  et  viro  illi  ad 
gracias  non  exiles  teneretur  .  per  quern  fuperna 
pietas  tot  fibi  exordia  referafTet  commodorum:  de- 
cernitque  condigno  hunc  fidei  fue  et  devocionis 
premio  munerandum.  Cuftodie  fiquidem  oratorii 


Vita  Haroldi  Regis.  23 

crucis  adorande  duo  tantum  clerici  tarn  brevibus 
ftipendiis  quam  tectis  content!  humilibus  vide- 
bantur  infervire.  At  vir  magnificus  locum  et  loci 
cultum  omnimodis  cupiens  cum  fuis  cultoribus 
fublimare  novam  ibi  bafilicam  fabricare  .  mini£- 
trorum  augere  numerum  redditufque1  eorum 
proponit  ampliare.  Utque  celebriorem  fama 
illuftriorem  clericorum  frequencia  .  celeftibus  nobi- 
litatum  muneribus  locum  terrigenis  exhiberet: 
fcolas2  ibidem  inftitui  fub  regimine  magiftri 
Ailardi  fue  ut  prelibatum  eft  falutis  miniftri : 
difpoficione  fatagebat  prudenti.  Nee  paulo  fegnius 
quod  mente  conceperat  rerum  pergebat  effectibus 
parturire.  Jaciuntur  feftinato  ecclefie  amplioris 
fundamenta .  furgunt  parietes .  columpne  3  fublimes . 
diftantes  ab  invicem  parietes  .  arcuum  aut  teftu- 
dinum  emicidiis  mutuo  federantur.  Culmen  im- 
pofitum  aeris  ab  introgreflis  plumbei  objective 
laminis:  variam  fecludit  intemperiem.  Binarius 
clericorum  numerus  fcilicet  infamis:  in  mifticum4 
fenatus  apoftolici  duodenarium  convalefcet.5  Pul- 
cherrima  nimirum  racione  ut  totidem  in  ejus 
templo  fancte  crucis  laudibus  perhenniter6  in- 
fervirent  perfone  quot  illius  gloriam  mundo  princi-  f.  6. 
paliter  ab  inicio  homines  nunciaflent.  Hiis  vero 
predia  et  poflefliones  unde  fibi  ad  omnem  fufficien- 
ciam  neceflaria  provenirent  liberali  munificencia  con- 
tulit  regia  quoque  auctoritate  confirmari  optinuit.7 

1  H.M. ;  reditufque,  G.  2  H.M. ;  fcholas,  G. 

3  H.M. ;  columnae,  G.  4  H.M.  ;  myfticum,  G. 

6  M.  ;  convalefcit,  G. ;  -cet  altered  to  -cit,  H. 
6  H.M. ;  perenniter,  G.  7  H.M. ;  obtinuit,  G. 


24  Vita  Haroldl  Regis. 

Jam  fi  temptemus1  ftilo2  evolvere  quot  donariis3 
quam  preciofis  et  multiplicibus  vafis  et  ornamentis 
vario  inftructam  decore  illam  edem  Dominicam 
nobilitaverit  .  fidem  fcribendis  forfan  derogabit 
tantarum  rerum  multitude.  Verum  ne  fimditus 
vel  in  hac  parte  magnificencie  illius  memoria 
deleatur  ad  quod  tamen  livor  vehemencius  afpirafle 
cognofcitur  :  opere  precium  eft  pro  zeli  fervore 
obniti  .  et  cum  fpecies4  ipfe  rerum  fublate  funt 
quafdam  velut  umbras  ipfarum  confiderare  volen- 
tibus  intimare.  Indicium  proinde  rerum  illarum 
que  a  primo  Normannici  generis  Anglorum  rege 
Willelmo  in  Haroldi  ut  traditur  invidiam  fancte 
fue  crucis  ecclefie  violenter  ablate  .  et  in  Neuftriam 
tranflate  funt  :  prefenti  duximus  pagine  inferendum. 
NOTA.  Tranftulit  enim  ut  legitur  idem  rex  de  Waltham 

Sum  ma  .  vj  . 

miiibus  et  .  vj  .  m  Normanniam  feptem  fcrinia  .  ubi  tria  fuerunt 

centis  et  .  Ixvj  . 

Hbris.  Scilicet  aurea  et  quatuor  argentea  deaurata  :  cum  gemmis 

in  cappis  aureis  A  f      ° 

et  argemeis  .  in  preciofis  plena  reliquiarum  .  Quatuor  textus:  auro 

crucibus  textis  .  r  •  r        K.  s-\  -11 

etcasuiamque  argento  .  gemmifque5  ornatos  .  Quatuor  tunbula 
magna  :  aurea  atque  argentea  .  Sex  candelabra  : 
quorum  duo  aurea  cetera  argentea  .  Tres  urceos 
magnos  ex  Greco  opere  :  argenteos  atque  deauratos. 
Quatuor  cruces  auro  atque  argento  et  gemmis  : 
fabricatas  .  Unam  crucem  ex  quinquaginta  marcis 
argenti  fufilem  .  Quinque  veftimenta  facerdotalia 
preciofiflima  :  auro  gemmifque  ornata  .  Quinque 
cafulas  auro  gemmifque  ornatas:  in  una  quarum 

1  H.M.  ;  tentemus,  G. 

2  H.M.  ;  ftylo,  G.  ;  and  fo  always  in  the  cafes  of  this  word. 

3  See  this  MS.  fol.  31,  where  a  confiderable  lift  is  given. 


crucibus  textis . 
et  casulam  < 
vocata  est : 
Domin 
ad  me. 


4  H.M.  ;  fpeices,  G. 

6  H.G.  ;  an  erafure  in  H.,  gcmmi 

z 


Vita  Haroldi  Regis.  25 

erant  duodecim  marce  auri  .  Duas  capas:  auro 
gemmifque  ornatas  .  Quinque  calices :  duos  aureos 
ceteros  argenteos  .  Quatuor  altaria  cum  reliquiis : 
quorum  unum  aureum  cetera  argentea  deaurata. 
Unum  cornu  vinacium  argenteum  .  centum  folidis 
computatum  .  Decem  philacteria  .  unum  quorum 
de  duabus  marcis  auri :  et  gemmis  preciofis  . 
cetera:  auro  argentoque  parata  .  Duas  fambucas 
fellas  femineas :  ex  multo  auro  fabricatas  .  Duas 
campanas :  preciofas  .  Hec  et  alia  permulta  que f-  6  b- 
longum  eflet  referre  .  queque  Normannorum 
ambicio  incomparabilia  eftimaret  .  devote  per 
Haroldum  fancte  cruci  oblata  et  per  Willelmum 
invidiofe  nofcuntur  ablata.  Hujus  tamen  abla- 
cionis  invidiam  perfunctoria  quadam  vifus  eft  idem 
Willelmus  compenfacione  palliafTe  ficut  infcriptum 
ilia  plenius  refertur  qua  de  invencione  fancte  fepius 
memorate  crucis  edita  .  ordinem  quoque  quo  ad 
Waltham  perlata  eft  ipfa  crux :  luculenter  infinuat. 
Ubi  eciam  que  et  quanta  loco  fancto  five  in  prediis 
et  variis  redditibus1  five  in  rebus  multiplicibus  ad 
minifterium  vel  ornatum  ecclefie  pertinentibus  . 
mirabili  devocionis  ardore  contulerit  vir  pius : 
plenius  reperitur  expreflum.  Nam  quia  ftilus  ad 
ea  properat  explicanda  que  cultor  crucis  geflit  ac 
pertulit  poftquam  fe  ipfum  in  holocauftum  Domino 
fuaviflimum  optulit2  tollens  jam  quotidie  crucem 
fuam  et  Chriftum  fequens  .  pauca  de  hiis3  perftri- 
gendo  referimus  que  de  rebus  fuis  velut  facrificium 

1  H.M. ;  reditibus,  G. ;  and  fo  always  in  the  cafes  of  this 
word. 

2  H.M. ;  obtulit,  G. ;  and  fo  always  in  the  various  forms  of 
this  verb.  3  H.M.  j  iis,  G. 


26  Vita  Haroldi  Regis. 

jufticie:  Cruci  confecrata  donavit.  Quorum  tarn 
multis  in  rebus  mobilibus  illi  fublatis  quecumque 
in  terris  .  et  villis1  five  ecclefiis  aliifque  redditibus 
loco  affignavit  hactenus  fine  diminucione  magna 
non  attamen  fine  nulla  ut  dicitur  poflidere  vide- 
tur.  Statum  vero  ecclefie  Walthamenfis  per  dive 
recordacionis  regem  Henricum  fecundum  in  opti- 
mum noftris  modo  temporibus  gradum  videmus 
reformatum.2  Canonici  namque  fub  rigida  .  et 
difciplinabili  regula  ecclefiafticis  excubiis  per 
Haroldum  mancipati  ad  fecularia  fenfim  tractu 
temporis  plus  equo  devoluti  facro  canoni  pretulerant 
vanitatem  feculi.  Nomen  enim  trahentes  de  utroque 
feculo  videlicet  et  canone:  perverfo  ordine  rem 
nominis  dimidiavere.  Secundum3  namque  fpiri- 
tantes  et  canonem  fpernentes  .  hujus  fcita  et  illius 
oblectamenta :  lance  librabant  minus  equa  .  unde 
pofthabitis  divinis  officiis  fpaciabantur  in  triviis 
mundi :  quibus  verfandum  erat  in  atriis  domus 
Domini.  Quibus  demum  pio  regis  jam  dicti  zelo 
inde  amotis  regularibus  canonicis  locus  idem 
nobiliter  infignitur.  Qui  Greco  bene  canoni  regu- 
Jam  jungentes  Latinam  .  fie  gemine  vocis  et  rei 
fimplicis  virtutem  vivendo  teneunt4  .  quod  Grecis 
jure  et  Latinis  maxime  veneracioni  efle  deberent. 
HosHenricus  officinis  regularibus  venuftiflime  deco- 
ravit :  fet  Haroldus  redditibus5  neceflariis  gratiflime 

1  H. ;  et  villis,  omitted,  M.G. 

8  This  paflage  clearly  indicates  that  the  prefent  text  was 
written  after  the  death  of  King  Henry  II.,  6  July,  A.D.  1 1 89. 

3  Sic  MS.  Scdm  for  Sclm  ;  with  a  marginal  note  Seculum  f 
Seculum,  M.G. 

4  M.G. ;  tenent,  G.  6  H.M. ;  reditibus,  G. 


Vita  Haroldi  Regis.  27 

fublimavit.  Hiis  enim  fuftentatur  grex  Dominicus  r.  7. 
in  fanctitate  et  jufticia  ibidem  Domino  devotiffime 
ferviens;  hiis  cotidie1  adventancium  caterve  innu- 
merabiles:  multimoda  confequantur2  humanitatis 
bona.  Hiis  viatores3  hiis  famelicus:  victum  et 
viaticum  hiis  languens  :  curam  hiis  algens ;  tegmen  . 
hiis  tectum :  hofpes  et  advena.  Hiis  denique  omnis 
egens  .  neceffitati  fue  fubfidia  recepit  oportuna.4 

1  H.M.  ;  quotidie,  G.  2  H.M. ;  confequuntur,  G. 

8  H. ;  viator,  M.G.  4  H.M. ;  opportuna,  G. 


ghiod  divinitus  difpojitum  fuit  ut  homo  ifte  in 

regem  ertgeretur  et  aliis  viflis  hoftibus  ab  eo  .  ab 

aliis  i-pfe  vittus  a  regno  deiceretur  .  et  de  Ana- 

cborita   valde   religiofo    qui    minifter   ipfius   jam 

folitarii  fuerat.        .       '  .         ,         .         .         iiij 

UIS  novit  hominum  quomodo  com- 
pingantur  ofla  hominis  in  ventre 
pregnantis?  Quis  vero  fcivit  vel 
fcire  poterit  .  quid  conducat  homini 
in  vita  fua  ?  Dominatur  plerumque  homo  homini 
in  malum  fuum.  Deprimitur  nonnunquam  et 
fubicitur  ab  homine  homo  homini:  in  bonum 
fuum.  Sic  in  fervum  fervorum  fratribus  fuis 
addicitur  Chanaan  .  fie  manus  Jofeph  fraterno 
addicte  zelo  :  in  Chophmo  fervierunt.  Sic  et 
Haroldus  nofter  ut  ad  propofitum  redeamus  tan- 
quam  fuper  ventum  fubito  elevatur  et  repente 
eliditur  valide.  Regno  pariter  acclamante  in  regem 
erigitur  .  cefis  qui  irruperant  barbaris  victor  ab  acie 
cum  triumpho  revertitur.  Recentem  fupervenifTe 
hoftem  ut  audit  non  metuit  .  fed  infultat  extermi- 
natori  fuo  veluti  protinus  exterminando  occurfitat. 
Manus  conferit :  et  concidit  congreditur  et  con- 
fciditur.  Confciditur  quidem  et  concidit  .  fet 


Vita  Haroldi  Regis.  29 

numquid  ad  perniciem  vel  ad  infipienciam  fibi? 
Num  hoc  fuftinebit  manus  ilia  regis  crucifix!  .  qua 
obftetricante  egreflus  eft  coluber  tortuofus?  ea 
quidem  permittente  tetigit  oiTa  ejus  .  et  fingula 
fere  membra  hoftilis  framea  .  carnem  quoque  ejus 
graviter  vulneravit.  Hac  difpenfante  hac  mirabiliter 
difponente  hec  omnia  fuo  evenere  Haroldo  ut  in 
ventre  pregnantis  ecclefie  hominis  ante  tempora 
fecularia  precogniti  et  fuis  temporibus  per  hec 
omnia  Deo  nafcituri  et  perfecle  placituri :  ofTa  com- 
pingerentur.  Conceptus  namque  per  devocionem 
fecundum  interiorem  hominem  Deo  .  hiis  exerciciis  f-  7  *>• 
crefcebat  et  augmentabatur  formabatur  et  folida- 
batur :  ut  demum  in  parturicione  egrediente  pre 
dolore  Rachelis  anima  fufciperet  in  eo  Jacob  pro 
Bennoni:1  Benjamin.  Qui  enim  matri  fue  videlicet 
angelice  doloris  et  mortis  filius  vifus  eft  .  patri  Deo 
qui  populum  mente  fuperbum  crimine  hifpidum 
variaque  prodicione  cruentum  hoc  eventu  decreverat 
fupplantandum :  filius  dextere2  mira  ipfius  permu- 
tacione  efFectus.  Verum  quia  ubique  fere  terrarum 
celebri  fermone  vulgatum  eft  quemadmodum 
Edwardo  fanctiflimo  ad  celefte  tranflato  in  regno 
terreno  fuccefTerit  Haroldus  qualiter  ejufdem  favore 
de  Norwagicis  triumphaverit  quamque  magnani- 
miter  quam  celer  et  imparatus  pre  nimia  mentis 
conftancia  fupervenientibus  Normannis  occurrerit  . 
ac  cefis  fociis  ipfe  quoque  in  hofte  ceciderit :  nos 
que  poft  hec  per  eum  divinitus  ac  circa  eum  fadta 
plerofque  latere  cognovimus :  Domino  favente 

1  In  reference  to  Gen.  xxxv.  1 8. 

2  H.M. ;  dextra:,  G. 


30  Vita  Haroldi  Regis. 

fcribemus.      Quorum   alia   a   quodam   venerabilis 

admodum  vite  anachorita  nomine  Sebrichto  .  qui 

viro   beato   pluribus    dum    adviveret    miniftravit 

annis  .  alia  ab  aliis  eque  fide  digniflimis  accepimus 

viris  .  qui  nobis  ea  hec  certitudine  fcribenda  retu- 

lerunt :  qua  effe  veriffima  indubitanter  probaverunt. 

Porro  que  poft  felicem  ipfius  excefTum  a  corpore 

celefti  per  eum  virtute  patrata:  pagine  afTcribentur 

ab  illis  qui  prefentes  cum  fierent  interfiierunt  fcripta 

nobifque  tranfmifTa  funt.     Predictus  autem  vir  Dei 

olim  minifter  ejus  et  fequipeda  devotiflimus  .  ut 

ille  de   mundo  receflit  .  et  quia  ad  Deum  abiit 

miraculorum     indiciis     patenter    declaravit :   ejus 

ferventer  in  bono  emulabatur  exemplum.     Cupiens 

quippequo  ille  pervenerat  et  ipfe  pervenire:  ftudebat 

quam  fimilius  potuit  ficut  ille  ambulaverat :  et  ipfe 

ambulare.     Igitur  quod  et  Haroldum  fuifle  noverat 

peregrinacionis  Jaborem  amplexus  natalis  foli  fpon- 

taneus  exul  .  ut  cujus  fanctorum  et  domefticus  Dei 

efle  mereretur :  efficitur.     Nudus  denique  pedes  a 

confinio   recedit    urbis    Ceftrenfis   ubi   thefaurum 

quern  devotus  aliquot  annis  ibidem  obfervant1  parte 

in  fuperni  regis  coronam  fublata  .  partis  reliquum 

humi  defoflum  dimittebat :  nudus  eciam  cupiditatis 

f- 8-       mundane    progreditur.      Sic   nudus   et    expeditus 

crucem  Dominicam  in  loco  quo  Dominicis  aptata 

fuit   membris  aditurus :  fepulcrum  ejus  gloriofum 

vifitaturus  .  in  loco  ubi  fteterunt  pedes  ejus  adora- 

turus  .  Angliam  demum  egreditur  plurima  nichi- 

lominus  et  alia  fandla  fanctorum  limina  ut  fecerat 

Haroldus  lacrimis  rigaturus  .  linguas  infuper  quas 

1  H.M. ;  obfervarat,  G. 


Vita  Haroldi  Regis.  31 

non  noverat  auditurus  .  et  tribulaciones  pro  Chrifto 
non  modicas  cum  gaudio  fubiturus  .  alienigenarum 
fines  ingreditur.  Poftremo  voti  faluberrimi  compos 
effectus  poft  varies  quos  enumerare  non  vacat 
circuitus  ad  patrium  ut  Haroldus  folum  revertitur. 
Reverfus  vero  in  villa  quadam  territorii  Oxene- 
fordenfis  Stantona1  nomine  fefe  permanfurum 
recepit  .  receptum :  inclufit.  Inclufus  plerifque  ob 
fcelera  claufis  et  incarceratis  aufteriorem  ufque  ad 
mortem  vitam  duxit.  Hinc  religion's  quibufque 
venerabilis  effectus  et  carus:  a  multis  gracia  edifica- 
cionis  mutue :  requiri  folebat  et  defideranter  adiri. 

Innotuerat  enim  devotiflimus  Deo  diftrictiflimus 
fibi  affabilis  cunctis  .  beneficus  multis ;  benevolus 
univerfis.  Per  hec  et  hujufmodi  Chrifti  cuicunque 
bonus  odor  effectus  cum2  in  odore  unguentorum 
ejus  cuncli  traherentur  .  me  cum  ceteris  tanquam 
pufillum  cum  majoribus  fimul  rapuit  .  fibique 
arctius  vinculo  dileccionis  aftrinxit.  Quern  adhuc 
vero  tener  .  religionis  profeffione  tenellus  .  cum 
per  internuncios  utrobique  graviores  creberrime 
aliquociens3  per  memetipfum  vifitaflem:4  ad  in- 
tima  demum  familiaritatis  facraria  ab  ipfo  admiflus 
fum.  In  quo  tandem  annis  jam  proveccior5  adeo 
profeci :  ut  fecum  de  interioris  hominis  ftatu  con- 
ferenti  .  vix  quippiam  fuorum  michi  fecretorum 
quod  inftruccionis  mee  negotium  expeteret :  celare 

1  Stanton  Harcourt,  about  five  miles  from  Witney,  G. 

2  H.M. ;  quum,  G.  ;  and  fo  always. 

3  H.  M. ;  aliquoties,  G. 

4  Note  in  the  margin  of  the  MS.  :  "Auctor  praefens  fuit," 
in  a  handwriting  of  the  fourteenth  century. 

6  H.M. ;  proveftior,  G. 


32  Vita  Haroldi  Regis. 

valuiflet.  Qui  cum  rufticanus  eflet  et  totius  eloquii 
alterius  quam  Anglici  nefcius1  .  mirabilem  tenebat . 
et  amabilem  de  religionis  fumma  proque  ydioma2 
fuo  luculenter  proferebat  fentenciam  .  ut  de  meipfo 
aiebat  .  quod  fencio  dicam  in  paciencia  et  fpe 
falutis  mee  fummam  puto  confiftere.  Subiciebat 
quanta  oftendiflet  fibi  Dominus  tribulaciones  multas 
et  magnas  .  quamque  clementer  converfus  vivificafTet 
fe  .  et  quam  de  abiflis3  terre  potenter  reduxiflet  fe. 
Interferebat  et  quanta  paflus  eflet  in  corpore  quanta 
in  mente  connumerans  et  diftinguens  utriufque  de- 
fectus  hominis  et  varies  affectus  demonum  aflultus 
f>  8  k  improbos  .  non  parum  quoque  acerbos  hominum 
infultus.  Addebatque  inter  hec  omnia  jam  jam 
paulo  minus  naufraganti  fola  mifero  michi  fpes  in 
crucifixo  pro  anchora  ruit .  qua  firmiter  nifus  omnia 
poft  modicum  quafi  in  fpumam  et  favillam  eva- 
nuifle  vidi  que  paulo  ante  ipfa  morte  intolera- 
biliora  duxi.  Verumptamen4  tales  inquit  ac  tantas 
fuftinui  afflicciones  carnis  .  ex  quo  corpus  miferum 
tanquam  feram  indomabilem  hujus  in  quo  five 
carceris  inclufi  anguftiis  ut  inexpertus  quifque  fer- 
ream  materiam  five  lapideam  vix  umquam  crederet 
tanta  durare  valuifle. 

Hec  ille  non  jactabundus  de  fe  ipfo  et  laboribus 
fuis  pro  Chrifto  fet  memorabat  animandum  me 
inter  ipfa  videlicet  tyrocinii  fpiritualis  inexperta 
certamina  trepidantem  tanquam  emeritus  jam  miles 
proprii  fudoris  familiari  experimento  ac  roboran- 

1  Written  twice  in  H.  ;  the  firft  word  has  a  pen  line  drawn 
through  it 

2  H. ;  ydiomafte],  M. ;  idiomate,  G. 

8  H.M. ;  abyffis,  G.  4  H.M. ;  verumtamen,  G. 


Vita  Haroldi  Regis.  33 

dum  talibus :  eftimabat.  Talia  vero  mente  com- 
punctus  proferebat  non  eorum  que  pertuliflet 
erumpnam J  deflens:  fet  illius  quam  ad  erumpnarum2 
fuarum  levamen  percepiflet  confolacionis  et  gracie 
fpiritualis  memoriam :  cum  mira  dulcedine  crucians. 
Hec  de  viri  iftius  vita  et  moribus  non  fuperflue 
ut  eftimamus  pagine  videbantur  inferenda  .  quatinus 
ex  fanctitate  alumpni  liquidius  docentur  3  quante  per- 
feccionis  culmine  converfacio  claruerit  fui  nutritoris. 
Hie  de  Haroldo  mencionem  faciens  non  aliter  eum 
quam  dominum  fuum  nominabat  .  ipfum  profecto 
fe  patronum  habere  in  celo  exultans  quern  precep- 
torem  in  mundo  habuiffet.  Per  hunc  igitur  ut 
premiflum  eft  .  et  alios  qui  virum  Dei  viteque 
ipfius  inftitutum  variumque  pro  locis  et  temporibus 
ftatum  agnoverant:  ea  que  fecuntur  comparata  funt 
et  vulgata.  Horum  nonnulli  quod  ipfe  Haroldus 
ipfe 4  quondam  in  diademate  gloriofus  effet  dum 
viveret  nefcierunt  converfacionis  tamen  illius  teftes 
fuerunt  .  et  quibus  deguifTet  in  locis  ex  quo  foli- 
tariam  in  Anglia  duxit  vitam  plenius  agnoverunt. 
Mundi  namque  gloriam  cujus  in  feipfo  ignobiles 
et  lugubres  exitus  expertus  fuiflet  medullitus 
perhorceflcens 5  poftquam  in  terra  olim  fua  vivere 
mftituit  .  nomen  fibi  novum  ipfe  impofuit  .  habita- 
cionis  quoque  loca  ne  quis  eflet  cui  quolibet  eventu 
proderetur  non  femel  mutavit.  Verum  hec  feriatim 
inferius  profequemur  :6  nunc  a  digreflionis  excefTu  ad  f-  9- 
ordinem  cepte  narracionis  ftilo  currente  accedamus. 

1  H.M. ;  aerumnam,  G.  2  H.M. ;  asrumnarum,  G. 

3  H. ;  docentur,  M.  ;  doceatur,  G. 

4  H. ;  the  fecond  ipfe  omitted,  M.G. 

5  H.M. ;  perhorrefcens,  G.       6  H. ;  perfequemur,  M.G. 

D 


Quod  inter  vulneratos  Jeminecem  tnventum  .  et 
Wintoniam  perduftum  mulier  quedam  Saracena 
biennio  ibidem  deli  tef  cent  em  fanaverit  Haroldum  . 
et  quod  pro  contrahendis  contra  Normannos  auxiliis 
Sax  ones  Dacofque  expecierit  .  nilque  profecerit  .  v. 


igitur  ac  fuperato  in 
primo  congreflu  a  Normannis  exer- 
citu  Anglorum  Rex  Haroldus  plagis 
confoflus  innumeris  inter  mor- 
tuos  .  et  ipfe  profternitur.  Nee  poterant  tamen 
quamlibet  multa  .  quamlibet  letalia  vulnera  vitam 
fimditus  viro  adimere  :  quern  pietas  falvatoris  ad 
vitam  et  vicloriam  felicius  difpofuit  reparare.  Re- 
cedentibus  itaque  a  Joco  cedis  hoftilibus  caftris  a 
mulierculis  quas  miferacio  ad  alliganda  fauciorum 
vulnera  illuc  attraxerat:  exanguis1  jam  et  vix  pal- 
pitans  pugnator  ille  pridie  potentiflimus  invenitur. 
Ab  hiis  2  Samaritani  erga  eum  vices  implentur  .  ab 
hiis  in  vicinum  tugurium  .  alligatis  vulneribus  fuis 
deportatur.  Inde  a  duobus  ut  fertur  mediocribus 
viris  quos  francalanos  five  agricolas3  vocant  agnitus  . 

1  H.  ;  exfanguis,  M.G.  2  H.  ;  ab  iis,  M.G. 

3  Judging  from  the  context,  the  Francalanus  was  probably 
the  fame  as  the  Franco  homo  of  Domefday,  of  whom  Sir  H. 


Vita  Haroldi  Regis.  35 

et  callide  occultatus  ad  Wintonienfium  deducitur 
civitatem.  Hie  biennio  latebras  in  quodam  cellario 
fovens  a  quadam  muliere  genere  Saracena  artis 
cirurgice  peritiflima:  curatus  eft  .  et  Altiflimi 
cooperante  medicina :  ad  integerrimam  perductus 
fanitatem.  Qui  viribus  quoque  receptis  regie 
magnanimitatis  confident!:1  quam  animus  nee  in 
corporis  ftrage  omiferat :  magnarum  conatibus  rerum 
credidit  approbandam.  Jam  victoris  fui  jugo  regni 
tocius  nobilitas  vulgufque  colla  fubmiferant  .  jam 
proceres  pene  cuncti  aut  perempti  aut  patria  pulfi: 
avitos  honores  alienigenis  parciendos  ac  poflidendos 
dimiferant. 

Cernens  itaque  Haroldus  fuorum  cladem  .  hof- 
tium  felicitatem :  corde  ingemuit  .  et  patrias  magis 
quam  proprias  deplorans  erumpnas2:  aut  com- 
moriendum  fimditus  aut  fubveniendum  civibus  de- 
cernebat.  Penalius  enim  ipfa  quam  vix  effugiflet 
nece  ducebat  .  fi  nee  fuis  erepcioni  fore  temptaviflet 
miferrime  viventibus :  nee  mifere  peremptis  ulcioni. 
Transfretavit  igitur  in  Germaniam  generis  fui  geni-  S5neaHaroidi 
tricem  aditurus  Saxoniam  .  gentis  fue  jam  utro-  «  Ger 
bique  vulgatum  miferabilem  cafum  cunclis  ipfe 
miferandus  deplorat  .  cognates  ad  ferenda  proprie 
ftirpi  fuffragia  inftanter  folicitat.  Allegat  infor- 
tunium  tarn  repentine  cladis  non  viribus  aut  virtuti 

Ellis  in  his  Introduction,  ii.  112,  gives  a  note,  tending  to  fhew 
that  thefe  francones  homines  are  entered  as  if  attached  to  the 
manor,  with  the  villani  and  bordarii.  The  Francigena  (fee 
Ellis,  Introd.,  ii.  426)  was  probably  one  who  could  not  fhew 
his  right  to  be  confidered  an  Englifhman. 

1  H.M. ;  confidential^  G. 

2  H.  M.  ;  asrumnas,  G. 


36  Vita  Haroldi  Regis. 

hoftium  .  non  ignavie  civium  .  non  denique  timi- 
ditati  .  non  imbecillitati  fue  efTe  imputandum. 
Solam  fibi  in  tali  eventu  animofitatem  fuiife  peri- 
culo  .  que  fuarum  confcia  in  rebus  bellicis  virium  . 
et  victoriarum  .  hoftilem  multitudinem  cum  paucif- 
fimo  milite  excepiffet.  Vincere  enim  afTuetus  et 
vinci  nefcius  victum  me  ait  credidiflem  .  fi  paulo 
fegnius  novande1  inimicis  victoriam  retulifTem. 
Cefis  namque  favore  divino  a  nobis  cum  rege  fuo 
Norwagicis  qui  regni  noftri  fines  ab  aquilone 
irruperant:  exercitibus  etducibus  noftris  ad  propria 
dimiffis  repente  a  regione  auftrali  fupervenere  Nor- 
manni.  Quibus  et  ipfe  cum  paucis  repentinus 
occurrens  non  inferior  viribus  aut  animis  .  fed 
numero  minor  compreflus  .  tandem  cecidi  non 
vidhis  cefli.  Non  incertam  igitur  victoriam  de 
talibus  confeftim  fumemus  quos  eventus  non  virtus 
hac  vice  fuperiores  oftendit.  Quorum  in  propriam2 
devocionem  .  et  fua  infolencia  .  et  tocius  nobis 
premeditate  congreflionis  modus  et  exacerbate 
multitudinis  copiofa  folacia  exhibebunt.  Hiis  et 
hujufmodi  Saxones  talibus  quoque  Dacos  quos 
nichilominus  follicite  adivit  pro  expugnandis  fecum 
regni  fui  invaforibus  interpellat.  Quorum  ftudia 
ut  vidit  in  diverfa  niti  in  que3  fua  minus  per- 
currere  vota  primo  quidem  graviter  anxie  mentis 
fluctibus  eftuare  cepit  .  vehementerque  addici.  In 
hoc  quippe  ut  erat  fagaciflimus  fecuritati  fue  rex 
jam  Anglorum  et  Normannorum  dux  caute  prorfus 

1  H.M. ;  novam  de,  G. 

2  H.j  promptu,  G. ;  perpetu[am],  M. 

3  H. ;  inque,  M.G. 


Vita  Haroldi  Regis.  37 

follerterque  profpexerat  ut  mifla  legacione  regis 
gentifque  Dacorum  aliarum  eciam  finitimarum 
nacionum  amicicias  fibi  abftringere1  .  et  graciam 
conciliare  feftinaret. 

1  H.M. ;  adftringere,  G. 


f.   10. 


Quod  infe  tandem  idem  re-verfus,  intellexit1  Deum 
Jibi  in  via  mundi  adverfari  unde  Chrifti  Je  con- 
formant cruci  ut  hoftem  melius  triumpharet  anti- 
quum  gaudet  fe  ab  hominibus  fuijjejup  era  turn  .  17. 

ANDEM  vero  in  fe  reverfus  Haroldus 
et  quafi  a  fantaftico  quo  diucius 
fompnio  fibi  redditus  ad  cor  fuum 
totus  convertitur.  Intelligit  vel  fero 
obfiftentem  fibi  in  via  hac  qua  inaniter  ambulabat 
Deum  .  fuique  fuiffe  angeli  quern  intus  exteriufque 
in  fe  fue  tarn  pertinaciter  cedentem  pertulifTet 
gladium.  Apertifque  mentis  fue  oculis  aliud  de 
cetero  fibi  genus  eligendum  videt  preliorum  alia 
requirenda  prefidia.  Refpexerat  enim  oculo  jam 
propicio  crucifixus  rex  regis  dejecti  labores  et 
longos  cruciatus  .  nee  ulterius  paciebatur  peculiarem 
vexilli  fui  cultorem  tanti  meroris  abyfTo  demergi  in- 
volvi  laberinto.2  Refpexerat  fane  .  lapfum  crimine  . 
et  lapfum  a  dignitate  quo  refpiciente  Japfus  cadunt : 
et  lapfi  refurgunt.  Refpexerat  denique  ut  fletu 
lapfus  culpam  dilueret  .  fpem  vero  et  ftudium 
regnandi  non  deponeret  fed  mutaret.  Cepit  igitur 


1  H. ;  intellexerit,  M.G. 


2  H.M. ;  labyrintho,  G. 


Vita  Haroldi  Regis.  39 

lapfus  videre  et  deflere  fub  afpeclu  cuncla  cernentis 
criminum  fuorum  et  errorum  lapfus  cepit  regni 
longe  felicioris  faciliorem  multo  viam  agnofcere  . 
et  copiam  prefentire.  Sedet  animo  crucis  quam 
amaverat  imitatorem  efle  tollere  quotidie  crucem 
fuam  venire  poft  crucifixum :  et  ipfum  fequi.  Nee 
vero  a  mente  excidit  quia  ut  ad  hec  idoneus  fieri 
poflit  fe  ipfum  in  primis  abnegare  necefle  fit.  Quod 
nichilominus  ut  poflit  eundem  ipfum  fibi  in  exem- 
plum  proponit  et  adjutorem  afTumit  .  qui  cum  in 
forma  Dei  eflet  feipfum  formam  fervi  accipiens 
exinanivit.  Intuetur  jam  qualiter  Dominus  mundi 
mundanum  cum  eflet  in  mundo  fprevit  imperium  . 
qui  et  quefitus  in  regem :  fugerit  .  et  milibus  obfe- 
quencium  turbis  folitarie  orationis  fecerTum  pre- 
tulerit.  Reminifcitur  datam  huic  per  paflionis 
dure  et  mortis  dire  fupplicium  omnem  in  celo 
et  in  terra  poteftatem.  Previdet  ab  omni  carne 
huic  tandem  occurrendum .  donandum  ab  eo  omnem 
hominem  regno  vel  fupplicio  meminit  fempiterno. 
Scit  quidem1  fi  eatur  ad  committendum  bellum 
cum  eo  ipfe  cum  decem  milibus  fibi  occurrenti 
obvius  cum  viginti  milibus  veniat  cujus  adventus 
improvifus  cujus  difpar  apparatus  .  quam2  latenter 
invadit  tarn  potenter  improvidum  quemque  et 
imparatum  nonnunquam  exterminat  et  extinguit. 

Pofthabito  igitur  inani  temporalis  regni   ftudio 
abjecto   terrene    concertacionis   exiciali    propofito. 
Ad  hunc  regem  adhuc  longe  agentem  legationem  f.  ro. 
mittere  ab  eo  que  vere  pacis  funt  tota  proponit 
intencione   poftulare.     Cujus  tamen  iram  fuis   ut 

1  Quoniam,  G. ;  qrn,  H. ;  quantum,  M.     2  H. ;  quern,  M.G. 


4°  Vita  Haroldi  Regis. 

timebat  offenfis  cumulatam  ne  fua  forte  Tola  legacio 
minus  fufficeret  delinire:  inquirendos  cenfuit  et 
quibus  pofTet  obfequiis  inquirendos  .  et  fue  lega- 
cionis  congruos  adjutores  et  ydoneos  apud  iratum 
regem  interventores  .  cujus  de  cetero  folius  gratiam 
probavit  £t  gloriam  ambiendam.  Mutatur  itaque 
in  Haroldo  hominis  repente  exterioris  habitus  .  et 
interioris  affectus.  Fulcit  quam  armare  confuevit 
manum  .  curtata  in  baculum  hafta  .  pro  clipeo: 
pera  collo  appenditur  .  fiJtro  vertex  adumbratur  : 
quern  munire  galea  .  ornare  diadema  folebat. 
Pedes  et  tybie  pro  fandaliis  et  ocreis  vel  nudantur 
funditus  vel  femicinciis  obvolvuntur.  Ut  autem 
et  reliqua  hreviter  explicemus:  omnis  armatura 
fortis  .  totus  potentis  ornatus  vel  abdicatur  penitus  . 
aut  in  abjeccionem  transfertur:  et  penitentis  penam. 
Nam  humeris  lacertis  .  lumbis  et  Jateri :  lorica 
folum  .  folita  non  adimitur  .  fed  proprius  admo- 
vetur.  Abftracta1  fiquidem  et  abjedla  interula: 
nude  carni  calibis  duricies  copulatur.  Sic  vigilans 
non  armatus  fed  incarceratus  incedit  ferro  .  fie 
dormientem  non  thorus  excipit .  fed  thorax  includit. 
Et  mira  plane  exterius  afTumpta  mutacio  ifta. 
Jocundum  fane  et  angelis  et  omnibus  fanclis  fpec- 
taculum  .  circa  tantum  et  talem  virum  .  talis  ac 
tanta  permutacio  rerum  .  verum  multo  jocundius 
intra  ipfum  fibimet  exhibebat  interius  arbiter  Deus  . 
creans  et  formans  in  eo  pro  tenebris  lucem  .  et  uni- 
verfum  ftratum  ejus  mirabiliter  verfans.  Vere 
inquam  mutacio  hec :  non  cujufcunque  fed  dextere 
excelfi  ubi  crudelitas  .  et  feritas  mitefcit  in  cle- 
1  G. ;  abftinfta,  M. ;  abflir.fta,  altered  to  abftrada,  H. 


Vita  Haroldi  Regis.  41 

menciam  et  lenitatem  .  contrahitur  elatio :  in 
humilitatem  .  Set  quis  mutacionis  adeo  felicis 
univerfa  commemoret  ?  Ut  innumera  vel1  paucis 
includam  .  hac  mutacione  concupifcencia  carnis  .  et 
mundi  in  horum  verfa  contemptum  et  odium: 
defiderio  ceflit  et  amori  celeftium. 

Sic  fie  operante  dextera  excelfi  rex  tranfit  in 
militem  et  militem  quidem  Chrifti :  plus  jam  con- 
tempto  quam  prius  cupito  regno  mundi.  Tranfit 
rex  in  militem  efficitur  rex  miles  .  ut  ita  efficiatur 
miles  rex,  et  rex  fimul  ac  miles  tranfeat  [in  regem.  f- 
Illi  enim  militare  aggreditur  miles  ifte  cui  militare 
regnare  eft  .  et  regnare  quidem  in  prefenti :  in 
future  conregnare.  Illud  vero  conregnare  multo 
felicius  quam  iftud  regnare  eft  quod  tamen  regnare 
mundo  et  mundi  regno  fublimius  et  majus  eft. 
Militando  quidem  regnat  et  regnando  militat  . 
donee  mutet  manfuris  mutabilia  miles  Chrifti  et 
abforbeatur  mors  in  victoriam  .  et  bellum  vertatur 
in  tropheum.2  Tune  rex  tranfibit  in  regem  militans 
in  triumphantem  follicitus  in  fecurum  moribundus 
in  Temper  victurum.  Interea  innovate  rege  inno- 
vato  et  milite  .  regnum  novum  in  Haroldo  cum 
innovata  fucceflit  milicia:  ipfius  quoque  cum  fin- 
gulis  fuis  fenfibus  et  membris  in  novos  reflorefcit 
ufus  mundi  cordis  et  corporis  fubftancia  tota.  In 
fame  et  fiti  in  frigore  et  nuditate  in  orationibus 
in  vigiliis  in  contumeliis3  et  injuriis  .  in  omni 
denique  labore  et  erumpna  maceratur  caro  roboratur 

1  H. ;  vel,  omitted,  M.G.     This  is  a  clear  inftance  of  Giles 
copying  Michel  inftead  of  reading  the  M.S. 

2  H.M. ;  tropaeum,  G.         3  H.M. ;  contumelis,  G. 


42  Vita  Haroldi  Regis. 

fpiritus :  anima  delectatur.  Quatitur  fufpiriis  peftus 
hanelum1  .  quod  prius  tumidum:  fpirabat  cedis 
minas  intonabat.  Rorant  lumina  imbre  lacri- 
marum.  Fulmineum  quiddam  indignantis  animi 
nutu  in  emulos  confueta  vibrare.  Nil  jam  elatum 
cervicofum  nichil  aut  truculentum  os  fupercilia  .  et 
cervix  pretendebant.  Modeftia  inceflum  regit  pietas 
animum  .  affectus:  puritas  fibi  defendit.  Interiores 
quoque  motus  et  exteriores :  honeftas  informat  . 
fanctitas  in  fuas  partes  omnia  ejus  aflumit.  Vide- 
tur  jam  fibi  Haroldus  folito  felicius  imperare  . 
regnare  fublimius  tucius  et  utilius  militare.  Gaudet 
fe  ab  hominibus  victum  .  dum  mundum  dum  feipfum 
vincendo :  victus  quoque  melius  de  Diabolo  didicit 
triumphare. 

1  H. ;  Quantis  s.  p.  anhelat,  M.  ;  q.  s.  p.  anhelum,  G. 


Quo d pro  expetendis  fanftorum  fuffragiis  longum 
inierit  peregrinacionem  et  quod  antequam  regnum 
habuijjet  Janfforum  limina  apoftolorum  adierit .  vij. 

NSTRUCTUS  vero  ab1  unccione  que 
jam  ilium  docebat  de  omnibus  celeftis 
quern  invenerat  thefaurum  defiderii 
ne  prede  pateat  inepte  publicatus  . 
caucius  fentit  abfcondendum.  Nam  et  ovis  primo 
genita  feu  bovis  nee  apta  fciebat  aratris  .  nee 
tondenda  .  quin  et  poma  que  germinant :  legis 
sanccione  immunda  decerni.  Hujufmodi  ergo  a 
Spiritu  Sancto  edoctus  oraculis,  omnes  qui  fibi 
ufque  ad  id  temporis  adhefifle  vifi  funt :  amicos  f.  «•  t». 
relinquid  .  neceflarios  deferit  .  ab  univerfis  demum 
qui  ipfum  noverant:  clam  recedit.  Adit  populos 
antea  ignotos  .  requirit  non  ignotos  .  fed  olim 
quidem  dileccione  precognitos  jam  devocionis  affectu 
ardius  complexes :  longe  lateque  patronos.  Abiit 
igitur  in  regionem  longinquam2  vir  ifte  nunc  vere 
nobilis  .  loca  invifere  facra  fanctorum  in  fuis 
ubique  fedibus  .  aut  edibus  veneraturus  reliquias  . 
regnum  Dei  quod  intra  fe  jam  tenebat  corum  fuf- 

1  H.M. ;  omitted,  G.  2  H.G. ;  lo[n]ginquam,  G. 


44  Vita  Haroldi  Regis. 

fragiis  plenius  et  perfeccius  accipere  .  et  in  fuam 
demum  patriam  reverti.  Adierat  quidem  antea 
nondum  videlicet  Anglorum  confecutus  regnum 
fummorum  limina  Chrifti  apoftolorum  devocionis 
plane  inftindhi  .  et  fandlarum  ab  urbe  reliquiarum 
ad  fua  pocius  reportandi  quam  in  urbe  adorandi 
obtentu.  Ferventifllmo  namque  ftudio  facras  col- 
ligere  fategerat  reliquias1  ab  illo  prefertim  tempore 
quo  Sancte  Crucis  edificare  apud  Waltham  ut 
prediftum  eft  ecclefiam  cepit :  et  ditare.  Unde 
accidit  ut  votis  precum  folutis  turn  prece  turn  precio 
varioque  ingenio  innumeris  fandorum  pignorum 
opibus  adquifitis  magnificorum  quoque  martyrum2 

1  For  a  long  lift  of  thefe  relics  fee  MS.  Harl.  3776,  f.  31. 
The  chapter  treating  of  them  commences  with  a  fhort  poem  : 

"  Hoc  facrum  pondus  fibi  confervavit  Haroldus 
Scilicet  iftarum  thefaurus  reliquiarum. 
Quas  tulit  ignotis  a  partibus  atque  remotis. 
Unde  crucis  fanfte  :  fe  premuniret  in  ede." 

2  The  Virgin    martyrs  Chryfanthus  and   Daria   are   cele- 
brated in  the  Calendar  on  the  25th  Oftober.     According  to 
Alban  Butler  (vol.   x.,  p.   502)  Chryfanthus  and  Daria  were 
ftrangers  who  came  to  Rome  from  the  Eaft  in  the  third  century, 
the  firft  from  Alexandria,  the  fecond  from  Athens.     Chry- 
fanthus, after  having  efpoufed  Daria,  perfuaded  her  to  prefer  a 
ftate  of   perpetual  virginity   to    that    of  marriage,   that   they 
might  more  eafily  with  perfect  purity   of  heart  trample  the 
world  under  their  feet,  and  accomplifh  the  folemn  confecration 
they  had  made  of  themfelves  to  Chrift  in  their  baptifm.    Their 
martyrdom    probably  took    place   during   the    perfecution    of 
Valerian,  A.D.  237.     They  were  interred  on  the  Salarian  way, 
their  remains  being  found  in  the   reign   of  Conitantine   the 
Great.     This  part  of  the  Catacombs  was  long  known  by  the 
name  of  the  Cemetery  of  SS.  Chryfanthus  and  Daria.     Their 
tomb  was  decorated  by  Pope  Damafus,  their  remains  tranflated 
by  Pope  Stephen  VI.    in  A.D.    866,    part  into   the   Lateran 
bafilica,   and  part  into  the  Church   of  the  Twelve  Apoftles. 
This,  at  leaft,  is  true  of  the  relics  of  their  companions  who  had 


Vita  Haroldi  Regis.  45 

Crifanti  et  Darie  rediens  ad  propria  beata  fimul 
ofla  vifus  fit  afportafle  a  Roma.  Verum  tanti 
predam  thefauri  tandem  fibi  prereptam  Roman! 
fencientes  et  id  non  eque  ferentes:  jam  abeuntem  . 
jam  longius  abfcedentem  diete  jam  tercie  feu  quarte 
emenfo  itinere  pium  confecuti  predonem  greflum 
fiftere  cogunt.  Nee  enim  reniti  aut  viribus  vel 
fuga  erumpere  indigenarum  multitude  paucos  fine- 
bat  peregrinos.  Quid  multa  ?  Tenetur  .  arctatur  . 
conviciis  urgetur  Haroldus.  Quodque  hiis  egrius 
tulit .  priftinis  pofleflbribus  minus1  prout  afferebant 
legittime  conquifitas:  reddere  compellitur  inefti- 
mabilis  precii  margaritas.  Predictorum  igitur 
Chrifti  teftium  in  divinis  non  fuffragiis  violencia 
Romanorum  fpoliatus  .  cetera  non  minus  preciof- 
iflima  Rome  obiterve2  adquifita  .  in  ecclefia  fepius 
memorata  patrie  redditus  fecum  attulit  reveren- 
tiflime  confervanda.  Devocionis  vero  illius  et 
cautele  .  vigilanciam  in  adquirendis  et  refervandis 
fandlorum  reliquiis  fi  quern  plenius  nofTe  juvat: 
prenotatum  de  invencione  crucis  Waltamenfis 
fuperius  tra&atum  ftudiofe  revolvat.  Nos  enim  f.  12. 
que  a  veteribus  fcripta  funt  intermittentes :  novum 
noftrum  novo  ftili  officio  profequemur  ut  cepimus 
Chrifto  ducente  peregrinum.  Quern  et  fi  multas 
perluftrantem  orbis  Chriftiani  provincias  .  totque 

been  walled  up  at  their  tomb.  The  remains  of  SS.  Chry- 
fanthus  and  Daria  had  been  tranflated  to  the  Abbey  of  Prom 
in  the  diocefe  of  Triers  in  A.D.  842,  by  gift  of  Pope  Sergius  II. 
In  A.D.  844  they  were  removed  to  the  Abbey  of  St.  Avol  or 
St.  Navor  in  the  diocefe  of  Metz,  according  to  Mabillon, 
Sac.  iz1.  Bened.  p.  6 1 1. 

1  H.  ;  omitted,  M.G.  2  G.  ;  ob  iter  ve,  H.M. 


46  Vita  Haroldi  Regis. 

tarn  falubriter  in  tali  perluftracione  tempora  con- 
fumentem  nee  locis  fmgulis  nee  diebus  comitari 
valemus  queve  egerit  aut  pertulerit  in  peregrina- 
cione  longiflima  fmgillatim  nofle  ac  referre :  faltem 
a  finibus  noftris  elongatum  jam  diucius  profecuti  . 
ad  nos  quoque  denuo  remeanti  alacrius  occurramus. 
Comitantemvero  .  et  deducentem  nullifque  aliquan- 
do  temporibus  aut  locis  ipfum  relinquentem  . 
Dominum  magnifice  collaudemus  benedicentes  in 
Domino  pariter  et  famulum  fuum:  venientem 
equidem  in  nomine  Domini. 


Ammiracio  l  J crip  tor is  cum  exclamacione  brevi 
Juper  benignitate  Dei  qua  fit  ut  eciam  peccata  elec- 
torum  ipjis  cooperentur  in  bonum  .  .  viij. 

INTERIM  autem  in  hoc  nomine  illo 
ambulante  .  illius  anima  per  mul- 
tarum  cum  fponfa  circuicionem  pla- 
tearum  quefitum  et  inventum  tenente 
fponfum  .  ipfius  jam  fpiritum  in  Deo  falutari  fuo 
exultantem  gratulabunda  cum  pfalmifta  audire 
michi  videor  voce  canentem  .  "Convertere2  .  anima 
mea  .  in  requiem  tuam:  quia  Dominus  benefecit 
tibi."  Hie  vero  precordis  leticia  benefici  Domini 
circa  {ervum  fuum  admirando  magnalia :  exclamare 
libet.  O  larga  pietas  et  mira  benignitas  fpiritus 
tui  O  virtus  et  fapientia  eterni  Patris  coeterne  fili 
O  dulcis  O  bone  Jefu.  O  ineftimabilem  et  in- 
veftigabilem  confiliorum  tuorum  altitudinem  .  Vere 
cogitaciones  cordis  tui  avertere  nemo  potest.  O 
quam  vera  fenfit  de  te  que  alloquens  te.  "Si3  de- 
creveris"  ait .  "salvare  nos:  continue  liberabimur." 
Quam  fidelis  quamque  accepcione  dignus  fermo  . 

1  The  text  of  this  chapter  is  omitted  by  Michel,  who  dates, 
"  In  quo  hiftorias  materiam  minime  reperies." 

2  Pfalm.  cxiv.  7.  8  Cf.  Efth.  xiii.  9. 


48  Vita  Haroldi  Regis. 

fidenter  prolatus  ad  apoftolo  tuo.  "Scimus"  inquit 
"quoniamdiligentibus1  Deum:  omnia  cooperantur 
in  bonum."  Benedictum  fit  cum  patre  coeterno  .  et 
Spiritu  coevo  nomen  glorie  tue  fanctum  .  qui  cum 
iratus  fueris  mifericordiam  facis  et  ut  aflerit  mulier 
fancta:  omnia  peccata  hominum  in  tribulacione 
dimittis.  Et  quidem  omnia  hec  vera  efle  et  in  hunc 
modum  innumera  .  que  paflim  leguntur  in  literis 
facris  de  te  fuper  hiis  que  perficis  et  exhibes  dili- 
gentibus  te  in  uno  demonftrafti2  tuo  hoc  dilecto 
dilectore.  Quam  evidens  nobis  argumentum  quam 
f.  12.  b.  prelucidum  in  uno  homine  ifto  fuavitatis  fimul  et 
fortitudinis  tue  fpeculum  condidifti  O  fapientia 
que  ex  ore  Altiflimi  prodidifti  attingens  a  fine 
ufque  ad  finem  fortiter  et  difponens  omnia  fuaviter. 
Ab  hiis  fontibus  fuavitatis  et  fortitudinis  illi  duo 
rivi  procedunt  gratie  et  feveritatis  feu  clemencie  et 
diftriccionis  quibus  debriata  fuperficies  terre  fanc- 
torum  everfis  zizanniis3  femen  producit  in  fructum 
vite  eterne.  Quante  enim  ferenitatis  pariter  et 
gratie  fuit  quod  ficut  multi  putant  propter  iniquita- 
tem  corripuifti  quidem  fed  in  eternum  non  pro- 
jecifti  hominem  iftum  .  corripiens  et  corrigens 
caucioremque  fibi  .  tibi  devociorem  ex  ipfa  quoque 
iniquitate  exhibens  eum.  Quanta  fuavitate  quanta- 
que  fortitudine  ufus  es  circa  eum  tarn  valide  de 
manu  mortis  eripiens  ilium  vitam  corporis  ejus  nee 
jaculis  nee  gladiis  fibi  permittens auferri  .vitam  vero 
anime  etiam4  peccato  ut  dicitur  ablatam  reftituens 
et  reformans  ei?  Hinc  et  ipfius  injufticia  inventa 

1   Rom.  viii.  28.  2  H. ;  dcmonftrati,  G. 

3  H. ;  zizaniis,  G.  4  H. ;  et,  G. 


Vita  Haroldi  Regis.  49 

eft  habundare  in  gloriam  tuam  .  quandoquidem  ex 
multa  magnitudine  et  magna  multitudine  dulce- 
dinis  benignitatis  tue  ubi  habundavit  iniquitas  fua 
fuperhabundavit  in  eo  gratia  tua  .  ut  eo  impenfws 
diligeret  te  .  quo  plenius  indulgenciam  confeque- 
retur  a  te.  Itaque  clarefceret  quia  jdiligenti  te 
cooperantur  in  bonum  non  aliqua  fed  omnia  dum 
quod  in  malum  Temper  eft:  ei  cooperatur  in  bonum 
eternum1  .  fuum  videlicet  et  tantum  peccatum. 

1  H. ;  non  aeternum,  G. 


Quod    de  peccato    Haroldi   multa    dicuntur   a 

multis  et  de  quercu  Jecus   Rotbomagum  Jub  qua 

juraverat   qu<e   corticem   exuta    manet    ufque    in 

ix. 

E  quo  nimirum  ipfius  peccato  quia 
multi  multa  loquuntur  .  loqui  de- 
bemus  vel  pauca  et  nos :  et  quid  de 
eo  fenciant  qui  vel  exaggerare  vel  qui 
attenuare  illud  familiare  habent  in  medium  pro- 
ferre.  Nam  ipfum  non  qualemcumque 1  fed  im- 
maniflimum  pat[r]afie2  peccatum  plerique  accufant 
in  tantum  ut  huic  ejus  enormi  peccato  Anglice 
Jibertatis  ruinam  eftiment  imputandam.  Aflumpfifle 
enim  in  vanum  afleritur  nomen  Domini  Dei  fui 
adeo  ut  perjurio  illud  polluere  non  timeret  cujus 
piaculi  crimen  prodigio  mirabili  divinitus  quoque 
aftruuntdenotari.  Quercusenim  proceritatis  magne . 
multeque  olim  pulchritudinis  ficut  hodie  quoque 
cernentibus  demonftratur  fub  qua  jurisjurandi 
facramentum  duci  Normannorum  preftitit:  mox 
ut  illud  regnum  quod  ei  fervandum  juraverat  . 

1  H.M. ;  qualecumque,  G. 

2  Patafle,  H. ;  pat[r]affe,  M.;  patrafle,  G. 


Vita  Haroldi  Regis.  51 

ufurpando  infregit :  virore  depofito  defluentibus 
foliis  corticem  quod  dictu  mirum  eft  repente  exuifle 
perhibetur.  Res  digna  fpectaculo  quod  lignum 
multis  condenfifque  frondibus  pauloante  fpeciofum 
non  fegnius  quam  hedera1  ione2  .  quam  oliva 
alterius  prophete  radicitus  exaruit  albique  fa<5H 
funt  rami  ejus.  Auget  miraculum  fubditi  mar- 
coris :  perpetuitas  invicti  roboris  arboris  exficcate 
quod  frequenter  cum  plurimis  et  ipfi  mirati  fumus. 
Quis  enim  non  obftupefcat  vafte  magnitudinis 
robor  .  ramufculis  etiam  minutis  non  imminutum 
fed  undique  inconfractum  ab  imis  radicibus  ufque 
ad  fummitatem  frondium  omni  velamento  corticis 
fpoliatum  .  tot  jam  feculis  nee  etate  ceffifle  .  nee 
carie  tabuiffe  .  nee  ventorum  turbine  impactum  . 
nee  imbrium  inundacione  infufum  .  putruifTe  .  vel 
faltem  nutafle?  Quo  figno  in  anni  circiter  cen- 
tefimi  quadragefimi  fpacium3  cum  arborem  vidimus 
jam  porrecto  .  infandi  fcelus  perjurii  vicinorum 
loco  Rothomagus  jactuabat  .  celitus  infamari. 
Modico  namque  intervallo  ab  urbe  ipfa  diftat  arbor 
infaufta  ameno  imminens  faltui  qui  ftrate  non 
multum  abjacet  a  ponte  Sequane  ad  Grandimon- 
tenfes4  eremitas5  fefe  protendenti.  Omine  tam 

1  Jonah  iv.  6,  7,  9,  10.  2  H.M.;  lonae,  G. 

3  If  this   be  taken   to  fignify  that  the  author  beheld   the 
withered  tree  after  a  lapfe  of  140  years  from  the  occurrence, 
we  arrive  at  a  date  certainly  prior  to  A.D.  1 206,  the  feventh  and 
eighth  regnal  year  of  King  John. 

4  "Anno  1156  Henricus  II.  prioratum  ordinis  Grandimon- 
tcnfis  fundavit  in  Silva  Roboreti,  quern  paulo  poft  in  vivarium 
fuum  prope  Rotomagum  tranftulit  ad  finiftram  fluminis  Sequanae 
ripam  ;  unde  locus  ille  nomen  fumfit  beatae  Marias  de  Vivario." 
Gallia  Chrijliana,  xi.  47.  c. 

5  "  La  premiere  vie  des  religieux  de  Grandmont,  fut  celle 


52  Vita  Haroldi  Regis. 

invifo  Londonias  primum  fibi  prefumpfifle  fertur 
Rothomagus  fubjugandas.  Nee  alio  magis  aufpicio 
tota  fimul  Neuftria  egentis  et  avare  domine  com- 
pendiis  prodigas  Anglorum  opes  ancillari  pofTe: 
docta  eft  non  defperare.  Hiis  adicitur1  ab  illis  qui 
Haroldum  jam  vere  victorem  linguis  adhuc  in- 
fectantur  .  illius  poft  modum  ac  poft  mcxlicum 
confecuta  quam  facilis  tarn  et  crudelis  dejeccio  qua 
ut  inopinate  regnum  amifit.  Sic  infufpicabiliter 
vitam  vix  confervando  necem  evafit. 

des  ermites,  fi  1'on  en  croit  1'opinion  commune,  diffe'rente  de 
celle  du  pere  Mabillon,"  etc. — Richard  et  Giraud,  Biblioth. 
Safr.,  xii.  262. 
1  H.M. ;  adjicitur,  G. 


Satis faccio  quorumdam  pro  Haroldo  qua  eum  de 
ferjurio  excufantes  Domino  favente  et  Sanfto  con- 
nivente  Edwardo  ipjum  regnajfe  affirmant  et  de 
vi/ione  abbatis  Eljini  qua  vittorem  Norwagicorum 
ipfum  fore  prenunciavit Janttus  Edwardus  .  x. 

DIVERSO  nonnulli  ex  fine  ipfius  .  et 
creberrime  eciam  antea  interlucenti- 
bus  circa  eum  fuperni  favoris  indiciis 
viri  Deo  dile&i  faftum  mecientes  . 
tarn  jurisjurandi  minus  obfervati  .  quam  regni 
quoque  rite  fufcepti  :  nituntur  inducere  rationem  . 
Quod  enim  rem  ut  ex  poftfacto  inquiunt  manifeftum  f.  13 1>. 
eft  univerfe  procul  dubio  genti  fue  exicialem  il  ob- 
fervaretur  juravit:  tam  fue  voluntati  adverfum 
quam  fuorum  faluti  contrarium  fuit.  Juravit  Notade  jura- 

.  ...  ,.  mento  Haroldi. 

tamen  metu  conitriccus  qui  in  virum  conftantem  et 
continue  mori  vel  perpetuo  incarcerari  renuentem 
non  immerito  caderet.  Nee  vero  alius  a  tantis 
anguftiis  patebat  exitus:  in  terra  aliena  in  manu 
poteftatis  tante  conclufo  .  fragilitati  ergo  mortal! 
que  vitam  nifi  in  vita  .  vix  exuit  morem  gerens  et 
confilio  qualiumcunque  in  tali  tempore  prefencium 
amicorum :  exortum1  preftitit  juramentum  in  quo 
1  H.M. ;  extortum,  G. 


54  Vita  Haroldi  Regis. 

et  leges  mundane  et  divini  canones  variis  vite  hujus 
neceflitatibus  condefcendifle  .  non  ignorantur.  De 
jure  extorquentis  hujufmodi  facramentum  .  alii  ut 
Jibuerit  difputabunt.  Licuit  vero  ut  manifeftum 
eft  fie  elicitum  .  fi  tamen  quod  nemo  diffitetur 
eciam  illicitum  fuifTet  :  non  implere  juramentum. 
Hac  vero  quia  alias  nequivit  de  medio  fe  tenentium 
Haroldus  exiit  Normannorum.  Qui  fuis  demum 
redditus  quid  pertulerit  .  quid  egerit :  cunctis 
palam  exponit.  Exponentem  ut  audit :  univerfitas 
in  iram  excandefcit  .  initam  mediante  facramento 
paccionem  improbat  ne  obfervetur  .  vehementer 
reclamat.  Abfit  inquiunt  abfit  ut  ferviamus  Nor- 
mannis!  Abfit  ut  faftus  Normanici  jugo  bar- 
barico :  nobilitatis  Anglice  urbana  libertas  nulla- 
tenus  fubfternatur !  Quid  multa  ? 

Conclamant  omnes,  fedet  hec  fentencia  cunftis. 

Pofthabitoque  juramenti  quod  nullum  efie  cre- 
debatur  periculo  :  Haroldus  demum  unanimi 
omnium  confilio  fublimatur  in  regem.  Quod 
preter  divinitatis  nutum  minime  accidifle :  celitus 
poft  in  brevi  fuerat  declaratum  .  cum  enim  rex 
Norwagenfis1  clafle  adveclus  numerofa  intrafTet 
Angliam  aggreflufque  Eboracenfem  provinciam 
cede  et  incendiis  obvia  queque  vaftaret  illique  rex 
Npudeinfir-  novus  coacto  exercitu  fcftinaret  occurrere  tybie  fu- 

mitate  tybie.          .  .  ,  .  -11  n   •       • 

bito  unms  vehementimmo  cepit  dolore  conftrmgi. 

Qui  ex  fuo  tali  compede  plus  fubditorum  difcrimini 

L  14.  quam  fuo  congemifcens  dolori  noctem  pene  totam 

1  For  account  of  this  invafion  and  its  refult,  fee  the  Anglo- 
Saxon  Chronicle,  ad  annum  1066. 


Vita  Haroldi  Regis.  55 

fufpiriis  et  precibus  agentes  infompnem  familiarem 
fancte  crucis1  expecierat  fubvencionem.  In  ipfa 
vero  node  aftititit  in  vifione  fervo  Domini  Elfino2 
abbati  Ramefienfi  fanctus  et  vigil  propugnator 
fuorum  rex  Edwardus  predeceffor  viri  merentis  et 
afflicti  exponens  .  abbati  regis  utrumque  et  corporis 
fcilicet  et  cordis  incommodum  cogitaciones  infuper 
illius  in  cubili  fuo  ei  manifeftans  .  mittenfque  eum 
et  dicens  ei.  "  Surgens  vade  et  annunciabis  regi 
veftro  ex  me  quia  et  prefentis  fui  doloris  medelam 
et  imminentis  belli  me  interveniente  Deus  ei  con- 
ceflit  victoriam.  Sit  ei  cogitacionum  cordis  fui 
revelatio  confequende  incontinent!  divinitus  fignum 
medicine  fit  et  revelacionis  infolite  argumentum: 
capefTende  victorie  prefagium  indubitatum."  Rex 
itaque  ut  paucis  utamur  divinis  curatur  beneficiis 
exhilaratur  oraculis.  Hoftes  fidenter  aggreflus 
facile  vincit  .  quia  non  .  fuis  fed  illius  viribus 
fuperavit  .  qui  fanat  contritos  corde  et  alligat 
contritiones  eorum  .  deiciens3  gladio  diligentium  fe 
hoftes  fuorum.  Colligitur  ergo  racione  non  im- 
probabili  fuadente  .  quia  fanctiflimo  predeceflbre 

1  H.M. ;  carcis,  G. 

2  This  Abbot  Elfmus  is  the  Alfwynus  or  Aylwynus  of  Dugdale, 
who  places   him    from  A.D.   1043-1079.      The  Anglo-Saxon 
chronicle  mentions   him  as  ^Elfwine  in  A.D.  1046  or  1048. 
He  occurs  in  feveral   charters  in  Kemble's  Codex  as  Alwinus 
(No.  809),  ^Elfwinus  (Nos.  853,  904, 919),  ^Elfwine  (No.  853), 
^Elfwin  (No.  904),  and  ^Elfwyne  (No.  904).     The  French 
metrical  poem  printed  by  Rev.  Mr.  Luard  among  the  "  Mailer 
of  the  Rolls  Series"  (No.  3),  p.  143,  fays : 

"  Une  abe*s  fu  de  Ramfeie, 
Ki  Alexe  ont  nun,  de  feinte  vie, 
E  li  aparut  feint  Aedward,"  etc. 

3  H.M. ;  dejiciens,  G. 


56  Vita  Haroldi  Regis. 

fuo  connivente — Deo  quam  maxime1  difponente 
regnum  fuerit  aflecutus  quod  fan<5ti  et  patrocinio 
munitus  et  oraculo  premonitus  divino  aftipulante 
fuffragio  de  hofte  fuperbo  tarn  meruit  triumph- 
aliter  liberare. 

1  Thefe  words  repeated  by  error  of  the  fcribe,  and  after- 
wards their  firft  introdudlion  into  the  text  fcored  through  with 
the  pen. 


De  crucefantta  admirabilis  quorumdam  relacio  . 
que  Regi  Haroldo  feftinanti  ad  prelium  .  caput  per- 
bibetur  inclinajje  et  alia  quedamjatis  de  ipja  cruce 
ftupenda  certij/ime  appro  bat  a1  .  .  .  xj. 

|UI  adhuc  non  folum  hiis  racionibus 
et  fignis  defenfa  eft  legittima  fceptri- 
gere  poteftatis  adepcio  .  et  ejufdem 
favorabilis  execucio  comprobatur. 
Novo  enim  et  feculis  omnibus  inaudito  Sal- 
vatoris  clemencia  fuum  dignata  eft  peculiarem 
fervum  figno  iterum  fublimius  infignire  quo  unius 
fimul  tarn  privilegiati  titulo  miraculi  et  fuum 
erga  devotum  regem  et  favorem  oftenderet  et 
amorem  .  et  illius  contra  probra  infamancium 
perenniter  defenfaret  honorem.  Res  ubique  prope 
modum  vulgata  eft  .  oculifque  ad  hoc  ufque 
tempus  fubjecta  que  accidit.  Revertens  fiquidem 
a  cede  hoftium  rex  fortiffimus :  et  novis  qui  fuper- 
venerant  feftinus  occurrens  inimicis  .  dileclam  fibi f-  *4  b. 
ecclefiam  nulla  patitur  feftinacionis  inftancia  pre-  . 
terire.  Divertit  igitur  devotus,  ad  ipfam  ingreditur, 
profternitur  .  et  liquefadlis  intimis2  precordiorum 

1  See  MS.  Harl.  3776,  f.  54.    "De  eleccione  et  coronacione 
et  de  inclinacione  capitis  Sanfte  crucis." 
»  H.,  internis,  M.G. 


58  Vita  Haroldi  Regis. 

medullis :  Crucem  fanctam  adorat  .  vota  graciarum 
pro  optento1  tropheo2  exaggerat  pro  optinendo  fi 
placeat  fumme  majeftati :  preces  fuppliciter  inge- 
minat.  Oracione  poftremo  completa:  imminentis 
belli  eventu  cuncta  moderantis  arbitrio  fideli 
devocione  attencius  delegate  feipfum  victoriofiflimo 
figno  commendans  cum  receflurus  jam  demiflb 
vertice  et  prono  corpore  cruci  facrofancte  valefac- 
turus  de  more  inclinaret  fe:  inclinavit  pariter 
fe  vultus  ymaginis  3  crucifixe.  Terruit  nimirum  et 
exhilaravit  quofdam  aftancium  mirabile  .  et  favor- 
abile  opus  Salvatoris.  Quid  enim  favorabilius  vel 
cogitari  potuit  quam  ut  rex  feculorum  immortalis 
invifibilis  vifibiliter  refalutare  videretur  regem 
mortalium  miferorum  falutantem  fe  .  et  fibi 
humiliter  caput  inclinanti  caput  fibi  faxee  ymaginis 
quam  dignanter  tam  et  potenter  inclinare  ? 
Quam  nichilominus  et  terribile  infirmitati  humane 
fuit  tam  infolita  videre  ut  contra  naturam  faxum 
flecleretur  et  quod  fupra  naturam  eft  Deus  in 
fua  ymagine  homini  inclinare  cerneretur!  De 
hoc  vero  quid  dicemus  quod  ubi  ars  humana  nee 
tenuem  valuit  divine  ymaginis  perforare  palmam  . 
ibi  ymago  ipfa  flexiffe  vifa  eft  cervicem  corpu- 
lentam?  Sudat  homo  artifex  et  cruorem  elicit: 
foramen  vero  in  manu  Japideum  efficit.4  Orat 
homo  in  brevi  defiturus  efle  rex  .  et  collum 
lapideum  quod  manu  hominis  et  fi  aliquatenus 
foraretur  nullatenus  tamen  flecteretur  .  flectitur 

1  H. ;  obtenti,  M. ;  obftento,  G. 
*  H.M. ;  tropeo,  G. 

3  H.M.  j  imaginis,  G. ;  and  fimilarly  throughout  in  cafes  of 
this  word.  *  H. ;  [non]  efficit,  M.G. 


Vita  Haroldi  Regis.  59 

repente  nee  frangitur  .  inclinatur  fed  a  tocius  inte- 
gritate  fubjecti  corporis  vel  annex!  capitis  nee 
tenuiflima  rima  mediante  diflipatur.  Nee  in 
fimplici  tantum  materia  tale  .  et  tantum  effiilfit 
miraculum.  Nam  quod  lapis  interius  latens  hec 
et  argentum  exterius  ambiens  duplicate  videlicet 
prodigio  pertulit  pariter  et  oftendit.  Ipfa  nempe 
illius  ymago  de  quo  fcriptum  eft  .  Suxerunt1  mel  de 
fetra  oleumque  de  Jaxo  durijfimo  .  materia  quidem 
petrina  .  immo  et  faxea  eft  .  qualitate  duriflima  : 
circa  humeros  collum  et  Jacertos  fpifla  .  et  ut  ita  1 15. 
dicatur  corpulenta. 

Hec  revelacione  divina  in  mentis  cujufclam 
vertice  fub  terra  fuit  reperta  .  nee  fciri  hactenus 
potuit  quomodo  vel  a  quo  fculpta  fit  vel  ibidem 
repofita  et  occultata.  Perducta  quoque  eft  celefti 
regimine  ad  locum  fepius  nominatum  .  quo  hec 
contigifle  perhibentur  bobus  nimirum  carrum  cui 
impofita  fuit  ad  transferendum  earn  per  centum 
viginti  circiter  miliaria2  illuc  directe  pergentibus 
nee  aliorsum  a  cepto  itinere  declinari  finentibus. 
Ibi  laminis  argenteis  veftita  .  et  patibulo  eminent! 
annexa  nee  affixa  fuit.  Nee  enim  vel  tantillum 
artificii  in  fefe  admifit  humani  .  ut  foramina  quibus 
clavi  de  more  induci  valuiflent :  in  ea  ullatenus 
homo  facere  potuiflet.  Nee  enim  iftud  intemp- 
tatum3  fuit  .  Verum  palma  dextere  illius  ferreo 
vix  inftrumento  aliquantulum  fuperficie  tenus 
terebrata  molliciem  habuiffe  inventa  eft  .  unde 
emifit  fanguinem  .  fed  duriciem  non  amifit  qua 

1  Deut.  xxxii.  1 3.  2  H.M. ;  milliaria,  G. 

3  H.M. ;  intentatum,  G. 


60  Vita  Haroldi  Regis. 

repulit  acutiflimam  celtem  vel  tarincam.  Preftitit 
hoc  ymaginis1  fue  dextere2  Domini  dextera  .  que 
ut  pfalmifta3  .  cecinit  fecit  virtutem  .  unde  et 
material!  huic  dextere  que  ibidem  fubneditur 
congrue  adaptatur  .  ut  ipfa  tot  fignis  infignita  tot 
prodigiis  fublimata  .  rebus  pocius  quam  fermonibus 
dicere  intelligatur  .  Dextera*  Domini  exaltavit  me 
dextera  Domini  fecit  virtutem.  Hec  vero  omnia 
nunc  iccirco  retulimus  ut  clarefceret  audientibus 
multiplicitas  Dominice  virtutis  .  quam  in  tali  fecit 
inclinacione  fancti  capitis  facrofancte  ymaginis  . 
ut  enim  prefati  fumus  tarn  in  argentea  quam  in 
lapidea  efrulfit  materia  Dominice  dignacionis  pariter 
et  virtutis  opus  hoc  admirabile  in  oculis  noftris 
quod  juxta  cornu  altaris  .  ubi  hoc  geftum  eft 
cotidie  infpicimus.  Nee  enim  vel  lapis  crepuit 
vel  lamina  fcifTuram  fenfit  feu  rugam  contraxit  . 
cum  a  parte  colli  racione  inclinacionis  tante  folito 
amplius  tenderetur  .  et  e  regione  gutturis  et 
faucium  non  minori  proporcione  plicari  cerneretur. 
Nee  vero  parva  fuit  primarie  difpoficionis  immu- 
tacio  .  ubi  mentum  ymaginis  quod  eminuifle  olim 
accepimus  .  nunc  ad  pectus  ufque  demiflum  ei 
velut  infedifle  ex  premifla  ut  dictum  eft  inclinacione 
videmus. 

1  H.M. ;  imaginis,  G. 

8  H.M. ;  dextra,  G. ;  and  fo  always  in  cafes  of  this  word. 

3  Pfa.,  H. ;  pura,  M. ;  pfalmifta,  G. 

4  Pfalm.  cxvii.  16. 


Diverforutn1  diverfa  inter $r  et  acio  Ju-per  predittis 
fignis  cruets  Je  inclinantis  et  quercus  arefafte :  et  f.  15  b. 
quod  Haroldusjeipjumjudicando  judicium  prevenerit 
divinum  et  non  formidet  humanum         .         .     xii. 

|OC  quoque  tante  pietatis  opus  quam 
dulce  et  propicium  tune  prefentibus 
vifum  eft  omen  portendifle  tarn  in- 
fauftum  et  crudele  pofterorum  non- 
nulli  pretendifle  dixerunt.  Triumphato  namque 
in  brevi  poft  hec  cum  fuis  rege  eorum :  {iibjec- 
cionem  Anglorum  Jamentabilemque  depreflionem 
regni  inclinacionem  iftam  prefignafle  plurimi  efti- 
mabant.  Ceterum  quibus  rei  gefte  ordinem  .  et 
regis  devoti  erga  crucem  precedens  pariterque 
fubfequens  meritum  attendentibus  .  longe  verifi- 
milior  meritoque  benignior  in  opere  tarn  divino 
occurrit  interpretacio.  Deus  enim  qui  merita  fup- 
plicum  femper  excedit  et  vota  .  fupplices  fuos 
fupra  quam  petunt  et  intelligunt:  exaudire  jugi- 
ter  confuevit.  Unde  multociens2  quos  clemencius 
exaudit  ad  falutem  .  durius  exaudit  ad  voluntatem. 

1  This   chapter   omitted,    M.,   with   the   following   note  : 
"  Hoc  capitulum  omifimus  ut  longum  et  infulfum  valde." 

2  H. ;  multoties,  G. 


62  Vita  Haroldi  Regis. 

Nam  ad  voluntatem  contra  eorum  falutem  :  fuos 
exaudit  folum  inimicos.  Nee  eft  necefie  de  qui- 
bufcunque  electis  aut  reprobis  utriufque  exaudi- 
cionis  exempla  memorando  :  fermonem  in  longum 
protrahere.  Sufficit  reproborum  principem  con- 
fiderare  fanctum  virum  Job  ad  temptandum  petifle . 
et  femel  et  iterum  accepifle  .  ficque  ad  dampnacionis 
fue  cumulum  exauditum  efle.  Satis  fit  e  diverfo 
ipfum  electorum  omnium  caput  meminifle  paflionis 
imminente  aculeo  calicis  tranflacionem  petife  nee 
optinuiffe  fue  tamen  voluntatis  nutum  evidencius 
expreflifle  fet  patris  beneplacito  ipfam  fubjecifle 
immo  et  ipfam  penitus  abjeciffe.1  Non  inquit 
mea  voluntas  fet  tua  fiat.  Deus  enim  in  tali 
voluntate  proprio  filio  non  pepercit  pro  omnibus 
nobis  tradens  ilium  .  ut  cum  de  torrente  in  via 
bibiflet  propterea  exaltaret  caput :  quod  in  cruce 
quum  bibifiet  continue  inclinavit.  PremifTe  tamen 
confummacionis  diccio  :  hoftis  humani  generis 
denunciata  deviccio  fiiit.  Qua  denunciacione  pro- 
mulgata  caput  inclinavit  in  pace  dormiens  .  poft 
follicitudinis  bellice  longas  vigilias  .  et  poft  fan- 
guinei  fudoris  agonem  .  in  pace  in  id  ipfum  fuavi- 
ter  requiefcens.  Hec  vero  increduli :  in  contrarium 
converterunt.  Quando  vero  triumphum  de  ini- 
micis  confummavit  .  tune  fe  regem  victorem  Jivor 
deviclus  vicifTe  credebat.  Ipfe  autem  quid  egiffet 
non  incertus,  caput  inviclum,  et  donee  vinceret 
femper  ereclum  in  fompnum  tarn  plene  fecurus 
inclinavit.  Patet  jam  quam  peculiari  figno  fideli 
adoratori  fuo  vicloriam  meliorem  quam  ceteri 
1  Immo  .  .  .  abjecifle,  H.  j  omitted,  G, 


Vita  Haroldi  Regis.  63 

peterent  aut  intelligerent  .  caput  inclinando  rex 
regi  fe  oftenderit  conceflifTe.  Ne  enim  prevaleret 
erronea  viclorum  contra  fui  victorem  exiftimacio: 
et  crederetur  regnum  amififle  qui  Judeorum  rex 
dicebatur  efle  acceflit  prefidis  litteris  indita  opi- 
nionis  temerarie  improbacio  .  capiti  jam  inclinato : 
titulo  fuppofito.  Erat  enim  fcriptum  in  eo: 
Jefus1  Nazarenus  rex  'Judeorum.  Permanfit  enim 
vere  rex  .  cui  plebs  impia  quia  regnum  invidit  ut 
ejus  caput  inclinaret :  et  ipfum  occidit.  At  ille 
pariter  et  caput  inclinavit  et  fibi  regni  potenciam 
vendicavit  quam  fe  plenius  accepirTe  convefcens, 
caput  in  tantum  inclinatum  fuper  omnes  celos 
exaltavit.  Nemo  igitur  exiftimet  nomen  regium 
feu  regiam  regi  cui2  tale  fignum  preftitum  eft  a 
rege  regum  omnium  .  dignitatem  deperifle :  vel 
quia  fibi  in  fua  ymagine  inclinari  dignatus  eft,  vel 
quia  vifibiliter  triumphare  de  hoftibus  imminenti- 
bus  ab  eodem  eidem  permifTum  non  eft.  Si  vero 
et  ad  regnum  cujus  fibi  temporalis  adminiftracio 
divinitus  collata  prius  eft  et  pofterius  ablata  .  pre- 
fagium  tarn  infolite  virtutis  duxerit  quis  exten- 
dendum  Anglice  felicitatis  depreflionem  necnon 
et  Jibertatis  tarn  laice  quam  ecclefiaftice  non  abnui- 
mus  confignificari  infulanis  extunc3  fatis  expertam 
dejectionem.  Verumptamen  ex  hoc  fervi  fui  pre- 
rogative crux  fancta  prejudicari  non  patitur  .  quia 
et  quiddam  aliud  id  quod  pro  eo  fpecialiter  egit  . 
univerfaliter  fignare  concedit.  Ipfius  nempe  gemi- 
tibus  pulfata  et  lacrimis  .  obfequiis  infuper  magni- 
fice  honorata:  pro  gratis  officiis  votiva  ei  non 

1  John  xix.  1 9.     2  Cui,  H. ;  omitted,  G.     3  H. ;  ex  tune,  G. 


64  Vita  Haroldi  Regis. 

autem  invifa  rependere  .  debuit  vel  pronunciare. 
Set  neque  tranfitoria  et  caduca  immo  ftancia  bona 
et  eterna  piis  preftat  et  promittit  cultoribus  eter- 
nus  .  et  invariabilis  Deus  pro  fuis  laboribus  vel 
obfequiis.  Annuit  ergo  dedit  et  conceflit  rex  regi 
quod  peciit  .  et  fi  forte  aliter  et  melius  concedere 
fcivit  .  et  dare  potuit  utpote  celeftis  .  terreno  . 
permanens  in  eternum :  ad  eterna  tranfituro.  Ab- 
f.  16  b.  ftulit  autem  umbratile  regnum  cui  verum  fervavit 
et  eternum  ne  foret  illud  tranfeunti  ad  iftud  vel 
Jeve  impedimentum.  Ne  vero  cogitaciones  homi- 
num  timide  quorum  et  incerte  funt  providencie 
ob  impendentis  molem  difcriminis  cogitarent  pium 
Dominum  adverfus  devotum  famulum  cogitaciones 
tantum  cogitafle  affliccionis  .  et  non  eciam  pacis: 
immanitatem  futuri  fcandali  prevenire  decrevit  im- 
menntatem  premiffi  miraculi  .  utque  tandem  hiis * 
finem  imponamus  talibus  clemencie  fue  indiciis  . 
dominus  dominancium  et  inftantis  glorie  .  et  ex- 
tantis  gratie  fue2  manifeftacionem  .  preferre  fervo 
fuo  dignatus  eft  et  conferre.  Hiis  denique  beneficiis 
et  in  perfecucionis  nubilo  et  in  abjectionis  Juto  . 
margaritam  fuo  inferendam  diademati  illuftrem  ex- 
hibuit  et  oftendit  .  fumma  poteftas  .  infinita  pietas 
inaccefla  fublimitas  .  fapiencie  .  clemencie3  .  et 
magnificencie  omnipotentis  Dei  Patris  et  Filii  et 
Spiritus  Sancti  folius  et  unius  regis  feculorum  eterni. 
Quod  vero  de  quercu  opponunt  alii  viderint  ipfi 
qui  filveftres  .  et  feras  et  arbores  colunt  .  qui  Jigna 
infenfibilia  .  et  bruta  animalia  hominibus  nature  fue 
confortibus  ad  ymaginem  Dei  factis  et  quod  hiis 

1  H. ;  piis,  G.     2  Indiciis  .  .  .  gratie  fue.     8  H. ;  gratiz,  G. 


Vita  Haroldi  Regis.  65 

amplius  eft  Dei  morte  redemptis :  preferre  nee 
metuunt  nee  erubefcunt.  Viderint  ne  forte  jurare 
cogentis  et  fecuture  ilJius  pofteritatis  pocius  quam 
juramentum  exhibentis  prefignaverit  aufpicia  : 
arbor  ipfa.  Viderint  et  dijudicent  utrum  eis  con- 
gruat  per  quos  fan6litatis  pariter  et  libertatis  viror 
et  vigor  emarcuit  et  evanuit  antique  in  Anglia 
ecclefie  quod  ubi  regni  fui  primordia  pulfare 
ceperunt  lignum  viride  et  frondofum  fubito 
exaruit  .  decorem  repente  exuit1  .  et  confufibilem 
tenuit  nuditatem.  In  hunc  modum  fecundum  ea 
que  accidifie  dicuntur  pro  rege  noftro  beato 
Haroldo  vel  contra  ipfum  aliis  fie  aliis  vero  fie 
fencientibus,  nos  que  parcium  fuerunt  tetigifTe 
fufficiat  diffinitivum  calculum  lectoris  feu  potius 
cuncta  fcientis  Dei :  examini  concedentes.  Quan- 
tum vero  noftrarum  intererat  virium  per  hec  que 
non  fuperflue  ut  eftimamus  commemorata  funt 
lapides  fcandalorum  de  via  tolJere  .  et  planum 
iter  facere  didtante  ut  confidimus  ipfa  rerum  veri- 
tate2  conati  fumus.  Supereft  jam  ut  redeunti  et 
de  via  longiflima  venienti  ad  nos  regi  noftro  et 
patrono  celeriter  occurramus  et  repatrianti  in  An- 
glorum  primum  .  deinde  in  Angelorum  patriam 
devoto  fidelis  ftili  minifterio  pro  viribus  obfe-  f.  I7. 
quamur.  Ipfe  vero  non  modo  humanum  fet  et 
divinum  jam  accufando  et  judicando  fe  .  fie  ftuduit 
judicium  prevenire  ut  fit  ei  pro  minimo  ab  hiis 
judicari  .  qui  in  partem  utramlibet  odio  propen- 
fiores  aut  favore:  juxta  humanum  diem  judicant  . 
crebrius  erronie  rarius  vere. 

1  exuut,  H. ;  cxuit,  G.  2  H. ;  verum  reritate,  G. 

F 


Quod  multis  in  peregrinatione  annis  exaftis  ad 
Angliam  ob  exercitandam  pacienciam  et  benignitatem 
Haroldus  rediens  Chriftianum  fe  vocitari  fecerit 
decenniumque  in  rupe  quadam  expleverit1  Jolitarie 
vivens ;  et  in  hujus  temporis  Antichriftos  compen- 
dioja  inveccio  .  .- ,  .  ^ .  .  •  .  x iij. 

XACTIS  igitur  in  fandlo  religiofe  pere- 
grinacionis  fudore  quampluribus  annis 
alium  converfacionis  modum  corpori 
jam  laboris  diuturnitate  etateque 
confedto  de  cetero  cenfuit  imponendum.  Didi- 
cerat  quidem  innumeras  fanftorum  quos  adierat 
virtutes  et  vitas  fandliflimas  .  decrevitque  jam 
greflum  figere  .  circuitionibus  finem  dare  valefa- 
cere  ex  integro  Marthe  .  cum  Maria  federe. 
Meditacionibus  eorum  que  vifu  vel  auditu  perce- 
perat  ex  dictis  bonorum  et  geftis  animum  fpiritu- 
aliter  ruminando  quo  liberius  faginare2  quatinus 
cum  pfalmifta  re  et  veritate  cantare  potuiffet  .  Sicufi 
adipe  et  pinguedine  repleatur  a[nima]  m[ea]  et 
la\biis\  ex\ultantibus\  lau\dat]  os  meum*  Gufta- 
verat  ac  tenuit  et  ipfe  turn  in  fe  turn  et  in  dulci  ac 

1  H.M. ;  explevit,  G.  2  H.M. ;  saginaret,  G. 

3  Pfalm  Ixii.  6.  4  H.M. ;  maum,  G. 


Vita  Haroldi  Regis.  67 

fuavi  juftorum  fanctitate  .  quam  dulcis  et  fuavis 
eft  fanctorum  Sanctus  ;  factuque  ducit  optimum  in 
reliquum  vacare  plenius  .  ut  videat  perfeccius  . 
fciat  felicius  quia  Dominus  ipfe  eft  Deus.  Verum 
ne  corporalis  vacacio  ut  eft  familiare  incautis 
animo  inferret  feriato  ignaviam  aut  torporem  .  in 
ilia  potiflimum  vacare  terra  et  quiefcere  preelegit 
ex  cujus  incolatu  patiencie  et  benignitatis  majus 
exercitium  majufque  argumentum :  habiturum  fe 
exhibiturumque  previdit.  Sciebat  perfeccionis 
culmen  cujus  pectore  jam  dilatato  gerebat  amplitu- 
dinem  .  in  eo  quam  maxime  eminere  quod  films 
unigenitus  fummi  patris  fratribus  adoptivis  indicere 
dignatus  eft  et  docere  .  Orate1  .  inquiens  .  pro 
calumniantibus  et  perfequentibus  vos  .  benefacite 
hits  qui  oderunt  vos  .  ut  fitis  filii  patris  veftri  qui 
in  celis  eft  qui  facit  Jolem  Juum  oriri  fuper  bonos 
et  malos  .  et  pluit  fuper  juftos  et  injuftos. 
Afpirans  igitur  precordiali  affectu  ad  vere  hujus  f.  17  b. 
perfeccionis  meritum  et  premium  ad  quam  pocius 
tendere  vel  in  qua  manere  terra  quam  ad  illam  et 
in  ilia  debuiflet  que  tot  fui  perfecutores :  quot 
illius  pofleflbres  .  quot  in  ilia  potentes  tot  fe 
odientes  .  tot  ferme  fe  calumpniantes  quot  fibi  vel 
de  fe  Joquentes  continet.  Nee  vero  temere  jam: 
tarn  forti  fe  credit  certamini  committit  difcrimini. 
Non  enim  ignorat  interni  fui  robur  inhabitatoris 
quern  inhabitabat  .  et  a  quo  inhabitabatur  nee  veta- 
batur2  cum  apoftolo  dicere:  An*  experimentum 
queritis  ejus  qui  in  me  loquitur  Chriftus  ? 

1  Matt.  v.  44,  45.  2  H.M. ;  verebatur,  G. 

3  ^  Cor.  xiii.  3. 


68  Vita  Haroldi  Regis. 

Tanti  hofpitis  jconfciencia  fisus  Chriftianum  fe 
voluit  nominari  .  ut  ei  unione  jam  fpiritus  con- 
junctus1  communione  uniretur  etiam  vocabuli:  quern 
fe  inhabitantem  in  fe  loqui :  in  fe  noverat  et  operari 
in  fe  et  pati.  Nam  et  illud  corde  fibi  .  opere  vero 
etiam  nobis  cum  Paulo  loquebatur :  Omniu^ poffum 
in  eo  qui  me  confortat.  Nori  fie  impii  .  non  fie  quos 
hoftis  verfipellis  hoftisdejiciens  et  dejectus  .  fie  armat 
ut  perimat  fie  roborat  ut  enervet.  Docet  enim  vos 
ponere  carnem  brachium  veftrum  ut  recedat  a  Deo 
cor  veftrum  ut  fitis  ficut  myrice  florentes  et  fteriles  . 
habitetifque  nunc  in  terra  falfuginis  que  fuis 
fructum  cultoribus  non  producit  poft  in  terra 
inhabitabili :  que  fuis  incolis  requiem  non  concedit. 
In  hac  enim  terra :  folum  fempiternus  horror  inha- 
bitat.  Quis  enim  habitabit  cum  igne  devorante 
aut  quis  habitabit  cum  ardoribus  fempiternis? 
Quibus  tamen3  poftremis  verbis  propheticis  abfque 
abufione  abutimur  .  ignium  non  nefcientes  diverfi- 
tatem  .  quorum  ifte  peccatores  fine  confumpcione 
confumit  .  ille  peccata  confumendo  .  peccatores 
juftificans  illuminat  pariter  et  accendit.  Quid 
autem  nobis  eft  de  .hiis  qui  foris  funt  loqui  vel 
judicare  .  qui  ecclefiam  immo  ecclefias  exterius 
quidem  rapiunt  et  diripiunt  .  fet  intus  nee  intrant 
nee  inhabitant  vineam  quidem  Domini  Saboth4  . 
pro  pofTe  fuo  vindemiantes  et  fuccidentes  .  fet  ab 
ejus  cultore  jam  ipfi  precifi  .  et  nifi  refipifcant  .  in 
ignem  eternum  in  puncto  mittendi  ?  Verum5  quia 

1  H.M. ;  cunjunftus,  G.  a  Philip,  iv.  13. 

3  H.M.;  tame,  G.  «  H.;  Sabaoth,  M.G. 

5  H. ;  Utrum,  M.G. 


Vita  Haroldi  Regis.  69 

Antichrifti  facti  funt  ifti  ad1  noftrum  pocius 
redeuntes  Chriftianum  hos  fibi  relinquamus  et  fuo 
igni.  Nam  et  nunc  tefte  propheta  ignis  adverfarios 
devorat  .  et  juxta  vitis  vere  fentenciam:  palmesf.  is. 
poft  mittendus2  in  ignem  jam  ardet.  Chriftianus 
vero  nofter  novus  et  vetus  .  novus :  nomine  vetus 
profeffione3  .  Chrifto  fe  inhabitante  fecurus  jam 
mundi  victor  et  illius  qui  in  mundo  eft  principis 
debellator  novo  marte  nova  preliandi  arte  fuos 
aggreditur  vincere  victores.  Contulerat  ei  fuus 
rex  cui  fpe  recuperandi  regni  amifli  jam  diu  mili- 
taverat  .  ignem  caritatis  .  quo  flatu  Sandli  Spiritus 
eftuante  .  vi6tricium  fibi  armorum  copiam  tribula- 
cionum  mallei  fuper  incudem  pacienciefabricaverant. 
Hiis  pro  amiflb  quidem  regno  fet  celefti  non 
terreno  .  certare  didicerat  invictiflime  fciens  quia 
ficut  nullo  fine  ita  nee  ullo  hofte  cum  illud  obtinu- 
ifTet  poflet  amittere.  Appulfus  igitur  demum  in 
regnum  quondam  fuum  periculofe  quidem  habitum 
fet  fructuofe  amifTum  .  armis  quibus  erat  munitus 
pro  regno  incomparabiliter  meliore  viriliter  pug- 
naturus  .  caftrum  ingreditur  fuis  copiis  fatis  aptum. 
In  quadam  namque  rupe  fecus  Dovram  fefe  re- 
cipiens  .  collegit  primum  fe  in  fe  ;  deinde  con- 
fcendens  a  fe  fuper  fe  cernebat  terram  a  longe 
cujus  interdum  regem  quoque  oculi  fui  videbant 
in  fuo  decore  in  qua4  et  cum  quo  etiam  ipfe  certa 
fpe  prefumebat  regnare.  Hie  juxta  decalogi 
fummam  decennium  in  vite  folitarie  tyrocinio  miles 
jam  emeritus  complens  .  vitalia  legis  divine  pre- 

1  H. ;  ifti?    Ad,  M.G.  *  H.;  poftmittendus,  M.G. 

3  H.M.;  prefeffione,  G.  *  H.;  quo,  M.G. 


JQ  Vita  Haroldi  Regis. 

cepta  divinius  ipfe  vivendo  certabat  pocius  excedere 
quam  implere.  Noverat  enim  id  quidem  virtutis  . 
hoc  efTe  fanclitatis  .  inchoacionis  illud:  iftud  per- 
feccionis.  Ulud  quoque  necefTarium  hoc  cenfebat 
gloriofum.  Hie  denique  confilium  illic  imperium 
attendebat  .  hominum  pariter  falutem  et  gloriam: 
zelantis  et  procurantis  Dei.  Non  vero  multum  a 
loco  ubi  regnum  terrenum  pene  moriendo  pridem 
ipfe  amiferat.  Hie  locus  aberat  ubi  vitam  fie 
inftituendo  degebat  .  regnoque  celorum  vim 
faciendo  illud  rapiebat.  Hie  ergo  paciencia  hie  et 
clemencia  viri  vires  fuas  exercebant  et  perdebant  . 
ubi  et  preteritus  fuus  fuorumque  lapfus  .  prefenfque 
hoftium  faftus  .  memorie  necnon  .  et  afpectui  fuo 
quo  frequencius  ingerebatur  .  eo  benignius  ad 
retribuenda  retribuentibus  fibi  non  mala  fet  pie 
interceflionis  ampla  beneficia  incitabatur. 


Quodinconfinio  Wallenfiumpoflmodum  Haroldus  f- 
pluribus  in  locis  tern-pore  multo  degens  patient er 
eorum  frequencius  tulerit  ajfultus  .  faciem  velans 
panno  et  nomen  nomine  alio  ne  aliquatenus  agnojce- 
retur  .  et  quod  tandem  ad  ejus  venerationem  converfa 
eft  immanitas  perfecutorum  .  .  .  xiiij. 

(ECOLENS  vero  quia  et  Ualenfibus 
licet  ob  juftam  ut  tune  temporis 
videbatur  gentis  fue  defenfionem 
extitifTet  quandoque  infeftus  .  eupit 
jam  Chriftianus  perferre  cum  Paulo  .  quod 
egerat  quondam  Haroldus  cum  Saulo.  Pertendit 
igitur  Cancie  valefaciens  ufque  in  partes  Wallie 
multoque  ibi  diverfis  in  locis  moratus  tempor'e : 
manebat  cum  illis  et  orabat  pro  illis  quern  illi  non 
fe  jam  oppugnantem  .  fed  pro  fe  pugnantem  inde- 
finenter  impugnabant  gratis.  Accefmrus  vero  ut 
premifTum  eft  in  terram  fibi  ante  cognitam  ne 
quavis  occafione  a  quolibet  agnitus  .  virtutis 
meritum  precio  vanitatis  dum  laus  oblata  jure  in 
eo  Jaudanda  profequitur  venditaret  faciem  fuam  et 
nomen  proprium  omnibus  abfcondebat .  proceflurus 
in  publicum :  velamen  panniculi  jugiter  vultui 
pretendebat.  Nomen  requifitus:  Chriftianum  fe 


72  Vita  Haroldi  Regis. 

dici  aiebat.  Qui  enim  nominis  appellacione  uni- 
verfis  cicatricum  vero  fuarum  infpeccione  quibufdam 
innotuerat:  vultum  fimul1  et  vocabulum  occultabat. 
Timebat  namque  ne  forte  his  indiciis  proderetur. 
Metuebat  fiquidem  ne  vel  a  fuis  fi  qui  forte 
fuperefle  potuifient  vel  ab  aJienis  quoque  fi 
agnofceretur  ?  plaufibus  exciperetur  feu  priftine 
dignitatis  et  moderne  humilitatis  intuitu  .  feu  etiam 
domeftice  neceflitudinis  aut  familiaritatis  obtentu. 
Nee  enim  timendum  erat  ne  talem  etatem  feu  con- 
verfacionem  agens  talem:  ab  hoftibus  fi  proderetur 
hoftiliter  traclaretur  .  et  durius  quam  fe  ipfe  con- 
ftruxerat2 :  per  ipfos  ardaretur.  Non  erat  incertum 
tamen  quia  fi  eorum  notitie  exponeretur  moleftius 
utique  quam  eculeis3  et  carceribus  laudibus  ipforum 
et  preconiis  premeretur.  Quis  enim  tarn  humilem 
et  mitem  .  tam  benignum  et  leuem4  tarn  mundi 
rebus  inanem  .  mundique  amatoribus  fponte  de- 
fpicabilem  videns  .  prefertim  fi  quante  olim 
exceliencie  quanteque  affiuencie  nee  non  et 
potencie  fuiiTet  minime  Jateret  .  quicquid  pofTet 
venerationis  et  honoris  non  ei  devotiffime  ex- 
I9  hiberet  ?  De  ejus  namque  parfimonia  et  paciencia 
illud  in  eo  mirabile  commendatur  quod  non  tam 
ad  injurias  pacienciam  quam  benificenciam  repen- 
4ebat  et  cariosum  jam  corpusculum  refocillabat 
pocius  quam  reficiebat  tenuiffimis  alimentis.  De 
quo  et  hoc  a  quodam  religiofo  admodum  Chrifti 
fervo  accepimus  .  quia  fi  quando  vel  exilem  pifci- 

1  H.M. ;  fimal,  G.  2  H.M. ;  conftrixcrat,  G. 

8  H.M. ;  aculcis,  G.  *  H.j  kncm,  M.G. 


Vita  Haroldi  Regis.  73 

culum  edebat  .  nunquam  infumpto1  uno  latere 
latus  reliquum  attingebat  .  aut  regirabat  .  fed  vel 
miniftro  vel  egeno  fi  affuiflet  :  intadum  porrigebat. 
Ejus  nimirum  vir  fan<5tus  intencione  rigidiflima 
complexus  exemplum  cujus  fibi  nominis  vendicarat 
participium  :  maluit  temporaliter  cum  Chrifto  .  et 
pro  Chrifto  jam  a  Chrifto  di<5tus  Chriftianus 
defpici  et  affligi :  quam  mundi  favoribus  et 
oble<5tamentis  demulceri  .  unde  et  ifeipfum  fevicie 
Wallenfmm  ultro  duxerat  exponendum  ponens  fibi 
ante  mentis  oculos  pafchalem  Agnum  qui  fponte 
feipfum  optulit2  impiis  facerdotibus  pro  nobis 
immolandum. 

Sicut  enim3  Chriftus  ambulavit  Chriftianus 
cupiens  ambulare  Agnum  quern  forte  fequi  non 
poterat  per  illibatam  carnis  mundiciam  fequi 
feftinabat  quocumque  iret  turn  per  mundi  cordis 
puritatem  .  turn  per  affli&i  corporis  paflionem. 
Paciendi  namque  fervens  amore  quafi  parum 
reputans  quicquid  ipfe  fibi  carnifex  afperitatis 
intulifiet  corpori  et  inedie  effere  gentis  Jibenter 
adivit  contubernium  .  a  qua  etfi  quominus  crucifi- 
gendum  variis  tamen  modis  fe  noverat  affligendum. 
Nee  fecus  quam  fperabat  et  optabat:  ab  infidis 
ferinifque  homunculis  pertulit  .  verberibus  namque 
feviflimis  a  latrunculis  eorum  fepius  vehementer 
attritus  quibus  etiam  poffent  dampnis2  afficiebatur. 

1   H.M.  ;  confumrto,  G.  2  H.M.  ;  obtulit,  G. 

3  The  ufe  of  the  ancient  diacritical  mark  of  abbreviation  for 
this  word  (.tt.)  goes  far  to  (hew  that  the  fcribe  of  this  MS.  was 
here  copying  from  an  original  document,  quite  as  old,  in  point  of 
date,  as  the  aftual  fafts  which  it  propofes  to  narrate. 

*  H.M.;  damnis,  G. 


74  Vita  Haroldi  Regis. 

Fraudabant  eum  viatico  .  vefte  fpolibant  utque 
peccunias1  quas  non  habebat  exhiberet  nimiis  et 
exquifitis  eum  cruciatibus  et  injuriis  contorquebant . 
faciebant  talia  homines  beftiales  .  quibus  apte  fatis 
congruit  quod  de  Longobardis  fanctus  Gregorius 
ait ;  "  Quorum,"  inquid,2  "  funt  zinzungie3  pene 
et  gratie  fpate."  Perferebat  vero  homo  Dei 
univerfa  mente  placita4  .  hylari  vultu  .  ore  dulci- 
loquo  .  manu  munifica  ;  nee  quievit  pietas  hujuf- 
cemodi  cum  impietate  conflictus  .  quoufque  illius 
malum  in  hujus  bono  deviclum  .  verecundiam 
vicle  imprimeret  .  victrici  gratiam  cumularet  et 
gloriam.  Pafcebat  etenim  ac  potabat  ut  vox 
f.  19  b.  monet  apoftolica  inimicos  .  mulcebat  predones 
beneficiis  .  mitigabat  tortores :  miraculo  inaudite 
lenitatis.  Congerebat  perinde  de  camino  multe 
caritatis  carbones  ignis  fuper  capita  eorum  .  unde 
mol[l]ita  eorum  duricia  medullitusdemumliquefacla 
colere  cepit  .  et  honorare  quern  folebat  illudere  et 
flagellare.  Infiftit  manus  obfequiis  .  que  feviebat 
plagis.  Ingeminat  laudes  afTueta  lingua  contu- 
meliis.  Virtus  enim  inexperte  bonitatis  more 
aromatum  quo  durius  traclabatur  forcius  redolebat . 
laciufque  diffufa :  multis  per  girum  odor  vite  in 

1  H.M. ;  pecunias,  G.  2  H.M. ;  inquit,  G. 

3  H.M.;    fuzugiae,  G.      The    reference    is  to  S.  Gregorii 
Magni  Epiftolarum,  lib.  i.  xxxi.    (Migne,  vol.  Ixxvii.,  fol.  484.) 
"  quia    ficut  peccata  mea  increbantur,  non  Romanorum,   fed 
Langobardorum  epifcopus  fadlus  fum,  quorum  fynthiciae  fpathae 
funt,  et  gratia  pcena."     The  annotator  writes,  "  Sjntbici*  funt 
pafta,  conventiones,  a  Graeco  evvOr)x.r).      Spatba,  gladius  ;  unde 

fpatbarius;  .  .  .  Senfus  igitur  eft;  Langobardorum  pafta,  con- 
traftus,  id  eft,  jura  omnia  quac  apud  Romanes  conftant  ex 
padlis  ct  contraftibus,  verfantur  in  vi  et  ferro." 

4  H.M. ;  placida,  G. 


Vita  Haroldi  Regis.  75 

vitam  fiebat.  Pellebat  namque  et  fugabat  fpiramen 
diabolicum  nebulofi  furoris :  a  precordiis  brutorum 
licet  hominum  illapfa  fenfibus  eorum  fragrancia 
fuavis  fandle  illius  opinionis.  Putares  jam 
plerofque  ex  hiis:  illud  ei  de  canticis  affectibus  pocius 
quam  vocibus  concrepare  .  In1  odore  unguent  or  um 
tuorum  currimus  anime  Jiquidem  noftre  dilexerunt  te. 

\ "  Oleum  affufum  nomen  tuum ;  ideo  adolefcentulae  di- 
lexerunt te.  Trahe  me  :  poft  te  curremus  in  odorem  unguen- 
torum  tuorum." — Cant.  Cantt.,  1.1,2. 


Quod  vir  Domini  Haroldus  fugit  obfequios  quos 
adierat  et  diu  Juftinuerat  perfequentes  et  quod  voce 
de  celo  lap/a  defignatus  fit  ei  locus  paufacionis  Jue  . 
et  quodfemiplenis  verborum  indiciis  .Jcifcitantibus 
innuerit  Je  fuijje  Haroldum  et  quod  fcripto  fuccef- 
foris  Jui  plenius  oftendetur  infer ius :  kujus  rei  cer- 
titudo  xv. 


T  vir  Domini  humilitatis  profunde  cultor 
amator  quietis  cuftos  follicitus  utriu£- 
que  .  ne  alterutrius  boni  faltem  exi- 
guum  admitteret  detrimentum :  quos 
perfecuturos  cenfuerat  expetendos  .  inclinatos  jam 
ad  obfequia  decernit  fugiendos.  Cedebat  in  eo 
jam  corporei  roboris  virtus  laboribus  quidem  cedere 
nefcia  .  fed  annis  infracta.  Crederes  olim  roborari 
pocius  quam  infirmari  genua  ejus  a  jejunio  .  clunes 
et  pedes  meando  agilitatem  fumere  fatigacionem 
vix  fentire.  At  jam  decrepito  experiri  erat :  quia 

"  Omnia J  fert  etas." 

Fufa  igitur  fupplici  oracione  ad  Dominum : 
locum  previderi  divinitus  fibique  jamjam  de- 
ficienti  jam  pre  fue  folius  fuaviflime  defiderio 

^  Stat.  Tbeb.y  iii.  562. 


Vita  Haroldl  Regis.  77 

vifionis  precordiali  fpiritu  languenti  folita  poftulat 
benignitate  concedi :  in  quo  vite  reliquum 
fub  filentio  optate  quietis  tranfigeret  .  et  felici 
demum  exceflu  terminaret.  Senciens  autem  per 
fpiritum  benignum  Dominum  pauperis  fui  pium 
exaudifTe  defiderium  imponi  fe  fecit  vili  ju-  f.  20. 
mento  .  folitoque  contentus  miniftro  .  iter  quo 
ilium  Dominus  deftinare  dignaretur  aggreditur  . 
pedibus  iccirco  fubvedhis  alienis :  quia  virtus  jam 
aberat  fuis.  Recedens  igitur  fcienter  nefcius  .  et 
fapienter  indoctus  ductu  comitatus  angelico  .  Cef- 
trenfem  demum  pervenit  ad  urbem  .  Ubi  mox 
die  inclinato  ad  vefperam  .  mediam  ingrefTus 
civitatem :  cum  manfionis  locum  miniftrum  in- 
quirere  precepifTet:  vox  repente  hujufcemodi  auri- 
bus  eorum  illabitur  .  "Vade,"  inquid,1  "  vir  bone 
ad  ecclefiam  fancti  Johannis  paratam  ibi  accipies 
manfionem."  Attonitus  ad  audita  minifter  oculo 
undique  circumfpectans  curiofo  .  edite  vocis  in- 
quire prolatorem :  fed  non  comparuit.  Nimirum 
angelum  Domini  bonum  qui  itinera  fua  fecum 
comitatus  bene  femper  difpofuiflet  ilium  fecifle2 
qui  de  parata  fibi  manfione  .  hec  denunciaflet  viro 
Dei  non  fuit  incertum.  Ipfe  vero  more  fuo  panno 
ante  oculos  pendente  .  et  totam  pene  faciem 
operiente  .  afpectum  fibi  velaverat  ne  videlicet 
occurrentibus  ob  notabilem  cicatricum  fuarum  ob- 
duccionem  ftupori  effet  .  vel  fi  agnofceretur  eciam 
veneracioni  .  vel  ne  ad  mentis  abdita  .  fenfibus  un- 
decunque  occurrenti  pateret  aditus  vanitati.  De- 
iignant  mox  digito  qui  circumftabant  ecclefiam 
1  H.M. ;  inquit,  G.  »  H.M. ;  fuifle,  G. 


78  Vita  Haroldi  Regis. 

celefti  oraculo  fibi  defignatam:  accedit  .  et  gratu- 
lanter  accipitur  .  hofpes  celitus  deftinatus.  Mi- 
graverat  fane  ab  hac  luce  de  recent!  venerabilis 
anachorita  ejufdem  loci  cafulam  fuam  divinitus 
provifo  cedens  fandliflimo  fucceflbri.  Sufcepit  vero 
letabunda  et  gaudens  .  licet  quifnam  eflet  .  cercius 
non  agnofcens  regem  fuum  filia  Syon  ecclefia  vide- 
licet memorata  fedentem  ignobile  quidem  fubjugale  . 
fanctum  tamen  et  fibi  venientem  in  omnibus  falu- 
tarem.  Ibidem  quoque  manens  a  vifitantibus  fe  . 
et  que  edificacionis  erant  ab  eo  reportantibus  .  fre- 
quenter requifitus  an  bello  ubi  rex  Haroldus  occu- 
buiffe  ferebatur  interfuiflet :  refpondebat  .  "  Interfui 
plane."  Sufpicantibus  vero  nonnullis  ne  forte  ipfe 
efTet  Haroldus :  et  curiofius  quoat1  licuit  inde  fcifci- 
tantibus  aliquociens2  ita  de  fe  loquebatur  .  "Quando 
apud  Haftingas  dimicatum  eft :  nullus  Haroldo  me 
carior  habebatur."  Hujufmodi  ut  ita  dicatur  femi- 
f.  20  b.  verbiis  ancipitem  de  fe  nulli  opinionem  firmabat 
pocius  in  fuis  conjecturis  quam  in  veritatis  certi- 
tudine3  confirmabat.  Quemadmodum  vero  rei 
hujus  evidencia  univerfis  demum  palam  innotuerit 
non  noftri  fed  viri  venerabilis  quern  in  ejufdem 
anachorefeos  inhabitacione  habuit  fuccefTorem  . 
verbis  inferius  exprimetur. 

1  H.M. ;  quoad,  G.  2  H.M.  ;  aliquoties,  G. 

8  H. ;  certitudincm,  M.G. 


Monetur  leftor  nefpernat  leccionem  quamjentit 
a  nonnullorum  opinionibus  difcrepare  .  et  de  triplici 
occafione  contraria  exiftimancium  Juper  materia  pre- 
fenti  et  de  Willelmi  Meldunenfis  circa  Haroldi  fata 
errore  trlformi  .....  xvj. 

INTERIM  vero  ledori  noftro  humiliter 
fuggerendum  exiftimo  ne  ifta  uteque1 
a  noftra2  pravitate  digefta  ducat 
fpernenda  .  quia  aliter  atque  aliter 
plerofque  forfan  meminit  de  hac  ipfa  .  et  dixifTe  et 
fcripfifle  materia.  Manifeftum  enim  eft  quia  non 
folum  plebei  relatores  immo  et  illuftriflimi  rethores3 
non  modo  diverfa  fed  penitus  contraria  fenferunt  . 
et  fcripferunt  fuper  hiis  que  facta  feu  fata  Haroldi 
contingunt.  Convincitur  autem  turn  evident! 
racione  turn  et  auctoritate  non  pofle  efle  verum 
altrinfecus:  quod  diflbnat.  Hoc  ipfa  quidem 
veritate  dictante :  fanctus  dixit  leronymus.4  In 
fentenciarum  vero  quas  hie  ventilamus  racione 
triplex  poterit  a  bene  confiderantibus  affignari  con- 
trarietatis  feu  quod  eciam  inficiari  nullus  debet 
falfitatis  occafio.  In  primis  equidem  perfpicuum 

1  H.M. ;  utique,  G.  2  H.M. ;  nofta  parvitate,  G. 

3  H.M. ;  rhetorcs,  G.  4  H.M. ;  Hieronymus,  G. 


80  Vita  Haroldi  Regis. 

eft  quia  in  multis  rei  veritas  univerfos  pene  diucius 
latuit.  Hinc  odium  perfone  .  feu  favor  benevolis : 
commentandi  bona  malevolis :  fimiliter  mala  de 
incertis  configendi  :  liberam  videbatur  ceflifle 
facultatem.  Hiis  facundiflimus  aftipulatur  in 
cronicis  fuis  Meldunenfis  Willelmus1  promittitque 
fe  medium  inter  obtrec"lancium  .  necnon  et  com- 
mendancium  partes  inceflurum.  Crediderim  pro- 
culdubio  ipfum  pro  viribus  veris  inftitifle  nee 
juftis  preconiis  .  nee  vituperiis  .  debitis  negociorum 
merita  ultro  defraudafle.  Verum  quia  audita  non 
eciam  vifa  fcribebat  hyftoriarum  Jege  audloris 
veritas  tuta  eft  ubi  veritas  quoque  ipfa  geftorum : 
naufragatur.  Alias :  nee  ipfi  beatiffimi  Evange- 
liorum  fcriptores  periculum  falfitatis  efFugerant. 
Sic  Salvatoris  pater  dicitur  Jofeph  .  fie  difcipulorum 
quidam  fratres  ejus  peculiarius  ceteris  nominantur  . 
non  quod  verus  fed  quod  putativus  eos  pater  filios 
habuerit  non  quidem  naturales  fed  pocius  adoptivos. 
f-  2I-  Secutus  igitur  opinionem  et  vero  minus  afluetus  et 
ifte  quod  vero  jam  patet  fuifTe  oppofitum  :  hiftorie 
fue  quamlibet  veritati  pro  viribus  innixe  agnofcitur 
indidifle.  Ceterum  in  aliis  que  de  meritis  Haroldi 
vel  moribus  prout  animus  tulit  aut  fama  fuggeflit 
aureo  nunc  vero  piceo  commentatus  eft  ftilo 
venalius  forte  exorbitaverit  a  tramite  veri  in  ipfum 
vero  Chriftum  Domini  trunculencius  deliquit.  Tres 
enim  lanceas  in  ipfum  violentus  intorfit  .  quibus 
non  tarn  illius  perfonam  quam  ipfam  contigit 

1  The  hiftorian  William  of  Malmefbury.  The  paflages  alluded 
to  are  in  his  Gejia  Regum,  ed.  Hardy,  Englifli  Hiftorical 
Society,  2  vols.,  8vo,  pp.  339,  383-385,  408-420. 


Vita  Haroldi  Regis.  81 

impeti  veritatem.  Dixit  eum  ictu  fagitte:  capita 
vulnerato  oppetifTe J  .  dixit  militem  qui  regi  mortuo 
femur  inciderat  ducis  cenfura  victoris :  ab  exercitu 
pulfum.2  Retulit  a  matre  funus  regium  oblata 
pecunia  a  triumphatore  Willelmo  poftulatum  .  fed 
receptum  abfque  pecunia:  apud  Waltham  tumu- 
latum.3  Sic  in  femur  .  fie  in  caput  fie  in  omne 
hominis  corpus  lingua  licencius  debachatur4  ora- 
toris  clanculo  fcriptitantis  .  quam  militis  armata 
manus  in  propatuJo  dimicantis.  Verum  tam  a 
fagitta  oris  iftorum  quam  et  a  framea  manus  illorum 
liberavit  Dominus  pauperem  et  inopem  quern  et 
rethoribus5  et  regibus  multis  probavit  in  pluribus 
pociorem.6  Non  quidem  de  omnibus  dico  dabit 
Dominus  fimpliciter  gradient!  intelligere  que  fcribo  . 
fentire  que  fencio.  Temperancius  vero  fcripfit  hujus 

1  "jaftu  fagittae  violato  cerebro  procubuit."     (W.   Malm., 
Gejia  Regum,  p.  416)  ;  "arainus  lethali  arundine  iflus  mortem 
implevit "  (ibid.} 

2  "Jacentis  femur  unus  militum  gladio  profcidit  ;   unde  a 
Willelmo  ignominis  notatus,  quod  rem  ignavam  et  pudendam 
feciflet,  militia  pulfus  eft  "  (ibid.) 

3  "  Corpus  Haroldi  matri  repetenti  fine  pretio  mifit,  licet 
ilia    multum    per   legates    obtulifiet  :    acceptum    itaque    apud 
Waltham  fepelivit,  quam  ipfe  ecclefiam,  ex  proprio  conftructam 
in  honore  fanfte  Crucis,  canonicis  impleverat."     (W.  Malm., 
Gefta  Regum,   p.  420.)     To  which   Hardy  adds  in   a  note  : 
"There  feems  to  have  been  a  fabulous  ftory  current  during 
the  twelfth,  century  that  Harold  efcaped  from   the  battle  of 
Haftings.     Giraldus   Cambrenfis   aflerts    that    it  was   believed 
Harold    had   fled    from    the    battlefield,   pierced    with    many 
wounds,  and  with  the  lofs  of  his  left  eye,  and  that  he  ended  his 
days  pioufly  at  Chefter.     Both  Knighton  and  Brompton  quote 
this  ftory.     W.  Piftavienfis  fays  that  William  refufcd  the  body 
to  his  mother,  who  offered  its  weight  in  gold  for  it,  ordering  it 
to  be  buried  on  the  fea  coaft. 

4  H.M. ;  debacchatur,  G.         5  H.M. ;  rhetoribus,  G. 
6  pocior  5,  H. ;  pocior  eft,  M. ;  potiorem  efle,  G. 

G 


82  Vita  Haroldi  Regis. 

ipfius  fcriptoris  contemporaneus  venerabilis  ad- 
modum  abbas  Edelredus1  fuper  hec  in  vita  fan<5ti 
predeceflbris  ejus  regis  Eadwardi.2  Dicit  quidem 
aut  occubuifle  Haroldum  in  prelio  aut  penitencie 
refervatum  :  non  fine  vulneribus  evafifle. 

1  H.M.;  Ethelredus,  G.     This  refers  to  Ailred,  Abbot  of 
Rievaulx,  whofe  work  "  De  Vita  et  Miraculis  Edwardi  Con- 
feflbris  "  is  printed  by  Twyfden  in  the  Decem  Scriptores,  cols. 
369-414.    The  fpecial  chapter  "  De  Victoria  Regis  Haroldi  per 
beati  Regis  merita  "   is  given  in  cols.  404,  405. 

2  H.M. ;  Edwardi,  G. 


Quid  accidit  IValthammenfibus  circa  patronifui 
fepulturam  piefollicitisfedmulieris  cujufdam  errors 
delufis  ....... 


[ON  mediocriter  tamen  id  domini 
Willelmi  aut  attenuat  in  tali  errore 
offenfam:  quodapudWalthamgeftum 
longe  lateque  percrebuit.  Revera 
enim  ipfos  quoque  peculiares  ae  domefticos  regis 
Walthamenfes  canonicos  infandus  hie  rumor  pre- 
occupaverat.  In  bello  fiquidem  Haftingenfi  regem 
occubuifle  ora  pene  omnium  loquebantur.  Debite 
igitur  patrono  fuo  liberaliflimo  devocionis  clerici 
non  immemores  fepedicti  .  quandam  fagacis  animi  f-  2I- 
feminam  nomine  Editham  in  partes  illas  ubi 
dimicatum  fuerat  quantocius  miferunt  quatinus  vel 
extincti  membra  domini  fui  ad  fe  deferret  in  fua  re- 
verentiflime  bafilica  fepelienda.  Videbatur  enim1 
ad  hoc  attemptandum  2  .  quo  imbecillior  et  in- 
favorabilior  hie  fexus  qui  et  ipfis  cruentis  licloribus 
minimum  fufpedlus  .  plurimum  vero  miferendus 
cenferetur.  Hec  autem  pre  ceteris  femina  com- 

1  H.M.  ;  enim  aptior,  G  2  H.M.  ;  attentandum,  G. 


84  Vita  Haroldi  Regis. 

modius  videbatur  ad  hoc  deftinanda1  que  inter 
milia2  mortuorum  illiusquem  inquirebat  eo  quoque 
facilius  decerneret  eoque  benivolencius  tractaret 
exuvias  .  quo  eum  arctius  amaverat  et  plenius 
noverat  utpote  3  quam  thai  ami  ipfius  fecretis  liberius 
interfuifle  conftaret.  Ad  locum  vero  fedis  infaufte 
cum  accederet :  percepit  a  multis  id  nimirum 
jactabunde  difleminantibus  circumquaque  Nor- 
mannis  regem  Anglorum  ignominiofe  vidhim  cruce 
femifradlo  fuper  faciem  campi  cum  interfedtis  jacere 
peremptum. 

Viderit  lector  quid  verius  probet.  Alii  etenim 
eos  qui  feminecem  fuitulerant  regem  .  hunc  quoque 
rumorem  fparfiffe  exiftimabant  in  populo  .  fuo 
pariter  et  illius  periculo  in  hoc  profpicientes  . 
quibus  indubitato  foret  exicio  .  fi  ilium  vivere : 
hoftis  audiret.  Inter  hec  mulieris  errorem  non 
mirandum  .  que  defecti  .  cruentati  .  jam  denigrati . 
jam  fetentis  corporis  fpeciem  minus  difcernere 
valens :  pro  eftimacione  publica  truncatum  cadaver 
cum  aliud  non  inveniret  quod  cercius  agnofceret 
regis  proprium :  rapuit  et  fecum  attulit  alienum. 
Quod  a  canonicis  reverenter  exceptum :  indifcufla 
rei  veritate  honefte  in  ecclefia  Sancle  Crucis  fepul- 
ture  eff  traditum. 

1  H.M.;  dcftituanda,  G.  2  H.M.;  millia,  G. 

3  H.M. ;  utquc,  G. 


Quid  f rater  Haroldi  Gurta  nomine  abbati 
Waltero  vel  aliis  refponderit  Ju-per  fratris  Jui 
requifitus  cimribus  vel  fepultura  .  .  xviij, 

N  diebus  vero  regis  Henrici  fecundi 
vifus  eft  tarn  ab  ipfo  rege  quam  a 
magnatibus  terre  .  et  populo  Gurta 
frater  Haroldi  quern  in  libro  fuo 
jam  dictus  hyftoriographus  tempore  adventus 
Normannorum  aliquid  plus  puero  etatis  habuiffe 
refert  prudentia  vero  animi  .  et  probitate  nil  diftare 
a  viro.  Erat  autem  jam  tune  grandevus  valde  . 
et  ficut  ea  tempeftate  a  multis  accepimus  qui  eum 
viderant  venuftus  afpeftu  .  facie  decorus  .  proceri- 
tate  corporis  admodum  longus.  Hunc  vidit  etiam  f.  22. 
pie  recordacionis  canonicorum  regularium  apud 
Waltham  abbas  primus  .  dompnus1  Walterus2  .  a 

1  H.M. ;  dominus,  G. 

2  Waltham,  according  to  Dugdale,  Man.  AngL,  vi.  57,  con- 
tinued to  be  a  college  for  about  1 1 5  years,  according  to  Harold's 
foundation,  from  1062  to  1177,  when  Henry  I.,  determined  to 
inflitute  Regular  Canons  in  room  of  Seculars,   "  quia  clerici 
feculares,  qui  ibidem  hue  ufque  manferant,  mundanis  operibus 
et  illecebris  illicitis  magis  quam  divino  fervitio  intendebant." 
Guido  or  Wido  Ruffus  the  Dean,  being  fufpended,  refigned 
in  1 174,  and  in  1 177  on  the  eve  of  Pcntcccft,  Walter  de  Gaunt, 


86  Vita  Haroldi  Regis. 

quo  una  cum  fratribus  fibi  adherentibus  in  curia 
regis  apud  Wodeftocam1  diligenter  fcifcitari  ftuduit 
utrum  revera  cineres  germani  fui  in  fuo  ut  crede- 
batur  monafterio  fervarentur.  Quibus2  ille  anglice 
refpondit  .  "  Rufticum "  ait  "  quemlibet  habere 
poteftis .  Haroldum  non  habetis."  Ad  locum  tamen 
per  feipfum  venit  crucem  fanctam  adoraturus  . 
Oftenfoque  fibi  farcofago3  fratris  ut  dicebatur : 
oblique  illud  intuitus  "  non  "  ait  "  homo  fcit "  .  fie 
enim  jurabat  "non  hicjacet  Haroldus."  Vivat  in 
longum  et  vigeat  in  Chrifto  dominus  Michael 
canonicus  probate  religionis  .  camerarius  ecclefie 
Walthamenfis  qui  multis  aftantibus  quorum  non- 
nulli  adhuc  fuperfunt  hec  ab  hore4  viri  fe  audivifle 
conftanter  affeverat.  Hiis  autem  pro  legencium 
commonicione  ne  perturbet  eos  varietas  incerta 
fcriptorum  breviter  nee  inutiliter  ut  confidimus 
prelibatis  .  jam  ut  promiflimus5  viri  fuperius 
memorati  verba  ponenda  funt  quibus  manifefte 
docetur  .  qualiter  fervi  fui  noticiam  Chrifti  benig- 
nitas  plurimis  evidentiflime  patefaceret  indiciis. 


a  canon  of  Ofeney,  was  conftituted  firft  abbot.  He  died  on  the 
eve  of  Afcenfion  Day,  1201.  The  mention  of  his  name  here 
in  the  text  feems  to  indicate  that  his  deceafe  was  recent,  and 
helps  to  point  the  MS.  to  the  date  which  I  have  affigned  to  it. 

1  Woodftock,  near  Oxford. 

2  On  the  margin  of  the  MS.  a  monogram  of  the  word  Nota, 
to  draw  the  attention  of  the  reader. 

3  H.M. ;  farbofago,  G.  *  H.  j  ore,  M.G. 
5  H.M. ;  promiffimus,  G. 


Quod  viri  del  JucceJJor  de  geftis  Haroldi  bea- 
tiflimi  vera  Jcribens  caufas  geftorum  minus  congrue 
bis  aflignaverit  et  -prime  ajfignacionis  dijcuflio  et 
competent  prolatis  fentenciarum  diverjarum  teftimo- 
niis  e<ujdem  improbacio  ....  xix. 

IN  quibus  fideliflimi  relatoris  id  quoque 
verbis  perpendendum  eft  quia  ficut 
res  geftas  luculenter  digeflit  et  vere 
ita  geftorum  caufas  minus  ut  ple- 
rifque  videri  poteft  convenienter  et  provide  quod 
pace  tanti  viri  dictum  {it  exprimere  curavit.  Ubi 
illud  tercium  adverti  poteft  quod  contrarietatis 
occafionem  inter  fcriptores  diximus  peperirTe. 
Qualitas  fcilicet  mentis  feu  intelligencia  fingula 
queque  referendum  qui  pro  fui  affeccione  animi  • 
viri  fandi1  affectum  propofitumque  in  hiis  que 
geflit  mecientes :  quid  quare  fecerit  nifi  funt  affig- 
natis  racionibus  intimare.  Quorum  fenfa  fcriben- 
cium  credulitas  incaucius  exprimendo  facia  ple- 
rumque  infignia  .  interpretacione  non  vera  fufcavit. 
Quod  non  femel  fed  fecundo  bono  huic  viro  in  fue 

1  H.  ;  fanftifiimi,  M.G. 


Vita  Harolai  Regis. 

narracionis  ferie  ill  is  videtur  accidiffe  .  qui  rationi 
perfpicue  nee  non  aliorum  opinioni  amplius  inni- 
tentes  eorum  videlicet  qui  fervo  domini  familiarius 
f  32  t>j  adheferant  ipfius  quodam  modo  intimam  mentis 
ymaginem  cordibus  fuis  alcius  impreffere.  Que 
vero  ilia  fint  quibus  minus  adquiefcit  ipfius  ut 
creditur  tenor  veritatis  opere  precium  eft  breviter 
difcutere  .  quo  fimplicioribus  pro  pofle  auditoribus 
vim  difcrecionis  aperientes  .  omnem  dubietatis 
caliginem  de  medio  auferamus.  Dicit  igitur 
memoratus  vir  de  fancto  tune  peregrinante  ita. 
Poftmodum  quia  natalis  foli  Temper  dulcis  effe 
folet  inhabitacio :  ad  Angliam  cujus  antea  rex 
extiterat  concito  properavit.  Cum  autem  fapi- 
entum  diffinicione  tritum  fit :  quia  infirmus  eft 
adhuc  cui  patria  fua  dulcis  eft  .  fortis  vero  jam  . 
cum  omne  folum  patria  eft  .  perfedus  quoque  cui 
omne  folum  exilium  eft  .  cui  non  pateat  abfurde 
dici  virum  ut  ipfe  dicit  fenectute  aridum  .  diutur- 
nitate  itineris  utique  religiofi  confra<5lum  .  natalis 
foli  ut  repatriaret  dulcedine  attractum?  Dicente 
infuper  Domino  ad  Abraham:  Ingredere1  de  tera^ 
tua  .  itemque  in  pfalmo  .  Oblivifcere*  populum 
tuum  et  domum  patris  tut.  Quern  etate  minorem 
animi  firmitate  .  et  fanctitate  meriti  .  inferiorem 
pariter  et  imbecilliorem  .  tenere  non  potuit  terre 
fue  .  populi  fui  .  domufque  paterne  dulcedo  aut 
memoria  duceret  jam  vel  attraheret  in  omnibus 

1  H.M. ;  Egredere,  G.     Gen.  xii.  i. 

2  H. ;    terra,   M.G.      The    MS.    originally   had  the  word 
dextera  written  in  error,  the  x  being  now  crafcd. 

s  Pfalm.  xliv.  ii. 


Vita  Haroldi  Regis.  89 

hiis  quo  provecciorem  eo  proculdubio  et  perfec- 
ciorem.  Aut  hanc  omifTam  olim  dulcedinem  corde 
ruminanti  non  continue  iJlud  evangelicum  auribus 
interioris  hominis  forcius  inthonaret : *  Nemo'2' 
mittens  manum  Juam  ad  aratrum  .  et  refpiciens 
retro  aptus  eft  regno  Dei  ?  Nee  vero  perpendit 
fcriptor  pius  quale  tune  fuerit  illud  ejus  natale 
folum  qualiter  immutatum  quam  fibi  fuifque 
infeftum  quam  omni  jam  fui  refpectu  .  et  fi 
mollioribus  adhuc  duceretur  affectibus  .  efle  pofTet 
eciam  grave  fibi  ad  videndum. 

1  H.M. ;  intonaret,  G.  2  Luc.  ix.  62. 


Secunde  affignacionis  infirmacio  et  J "crip tor is  ad 
leftorem  deprecacio  et  de  difficultate  materiam 
refarciendi  a  prifcis  Jcriptoribus  varie  lacera- 
tam  .  ....  .  .  .  .xx. 

I  EC  fatis  validiore1  paulo  inferius  ra- 
cione  fulcitur  ubi  caufam  allegat 
qua  Ceftriam  aditurus  deferuit  Salo- 
peflyram.  Refert  eum  ne  tribulacio 
exterior  interioris  hominis  quietem  a  modera- 
minis  fui  ftatu  deiceret  locum  ilium  deferuiffe  in 
quo  .  ficut  idem  perhibet  vehementer  .  et  fepiflime 
a  Wallenfibus  dampnis2  et  verberibus  affliclus  . 
feptennio3  quietus  in  fe :  et  Domino  humiliter 
23-  gracias  agens :  vifus  eft  permanfiffe.  Que  profeclo 
fentencia  alia  nichilominus4  adhibita  confideracione 
deprehenditur  efle  invalida  excepta  illorum  quoque 
tradicione  qui  eum  fines  Wallenfium  ob  hanc 
ipfam  racionem  inhabitant  affirmant:  quatinus 
pateretur  ab  illis  quos  graviflima  olim  populacione 
attriverat  quamlibet  jufta  ut  putabatur  de  caufa: 

1  validi  ore,  H. ;  validiore,  M.G.  2  H.M. ;  damnis,  G. 

8  H.  ;  feptennio,  M.G.  4  H.M. ;  nihilominus,  G. 


Vita  Haroldi  Regis.  91 

quicquid  eum  perpeti  cuncta  fuaviter  difponentis 
Dei  clemens  difpenfacio  permifirTet.  Si  enim  de- 
clinande  infeftacionis  illius  obtentu  fedem  mutare 
decreviffet :  fecifTet  hoc  utique  cicius  nee  tociens 
dampnis1  et  verberibus:  affligi  expectaflet.  Nee 
enim  infcius  erat  in  oris  eorum  in  quorum  olim 
medio  .  triennali  ut  fertur  expedicione  hyemando  . 
niniio  ipforum  periculo  intus  et  in  cute  ut  dicitur 
eos  noverat.  Fuit  hec  quando  adhuc  comes  tanta 
eos  virtute  perdomuit  .  peneque  delevit  .  quanta 
omnium  fequencium  ufque  in  prefens  regum  vires 
nequivere. 

Tanti  enim  roboris  fuifTe  perhibetur  cum  fuerit 
audacia  fingularis:  ut  ficut  legimus  in  bello  quoque 
Normannorum  nullus  ad  eum  armatorum  accef- 
ferit  hoftium  quin  ftatim  primo  ictu  equum  et 
equitem  deiceret  lethaliter  fauciatos.2  Quam  adeo 
mirabilem  .  jam  mutaverat  fortitudinem  fperans 
in  domino  .  pennis  afTumptis  volans  .  et  nufquam 
in  volatu  deficiens.  Hoc  autem  folum  volatili 
tarn  forti  jam  erat  formidini  ne  favoris  fcilicet 
mundani  vifco  fuarum  aliquatenus  pennarum  virtus 
infirmaretur  fieretque  infirmus  et  non  tarn  volucrum 
quas  pafcit  Deus  quam  illorum  hominum  fimilis 
quos  pafcit  ventus3:  fi  fibi  feptem  Sampfonis  crines 
adulacionis  novacula  raderentur.  Id  folum  ergo 
fugit  quod  fojum  formidavit  non  fane  Wallenfis 
telum  fed  peccatoris  oleum.  Sciebat  Wallenfes: 
ignotos  habere  fufpicacioni  .  in  religione  probatos 

1  H.M. ;  toties  damnis,  G. 

2  On  the  margin  of  the  MS.  a  monogram  of  the  word  Nota. 

3  Cf.  Milton,  Lycidas,  "  But  fwoln  with  wind,"  etc. 


% 

92  Vita  Haroldi  Regis. 

veneracioni  .  ideoque  illorum  afpernari  contu- 
bernia  .  iftorum  admirari.  Vir  autem  domini 
hinc  quidem  juftus  et  fortis  .  illic  prudens  et  tem- 
perans:  afpernantes  fortiter  expeciit  .  ut  quod 
meruifle  fe  timuit  malum  jufte  pateretur  .  ad- 
mirantes  prudenter  deferuit  .  ne  temperate  medio- 
critatis  bono  privaretur.  Meminit  quia  oJivam 
pulchram1  uberem2  fructiferam  .  a  facie  vocis 
f.  23 b.  grandis:  fubito  juxta  prophetam  combufTit  ignis: 
quamobrem  voluit  ambulare  cum  magnis  .  neque 
•  in  mirabilibus  fuper  fe.  Quos  ergo  diu  fuftinuerat 
fupra  dorfum  fuum  fabricantes :  peccatores  fubter- 
fugit  .  caput  fibi  impugnare  feftinantes. 

Set  jam  finem  fermo  flagitat  .  liber  claudendus 
eft  ut  que  de  Haroldo  innotefcere  necefle  eft : 
ilJorum  qui  hec  plenius  agnoverunt  ftilus  evolvat. 
Benivolum3  vero  lectorem  in  fui  cake  libellus  ifte 
linali  claufula  femper  habeat  exoratum  .  quatinus 
fui  aucloris  exceflus  piis  precibus  dignetur  expiare 
fecumque  fancti  Regis  Haroldi  opitulante  inter- 
ceflione  ad  portum  falutis  eterne  ipfum  pariter 
optineat4  pervenire  .  Multiloquio  etiam  in  pre- 
fenti  opufculo  fcriptoris  eo  clemencius  indulgeat 
veniam  quod5  difficilius  fuiffe  confpicit  propofitum6 
materiam  tot  prius  veterum  ftudiis  auclorum  d\f- 
ciffam  multipliciter  et  dilaceratam  refarcire  quodam 
modo  et  innovare  ac  vetuftam  .  ut  ita  dicatur 
ci[m]bam7  et  conquafTatam  inter  famofos  hyftori- 

1  H.M. ;  pulcram,  G.  2  H.M. ;  uberem,  uberem,  G. 

8  H.M. ;  Benevolum,  G.      *  H.M. ;  obtineat,  G. 
8  H.M. ;  quo,  G.  «  H.M;  propofitam,  G' 

7  cibu,  altered  to  ciba,  H. ;  cibum,  M. ;  cymbam,  G. 


Vita  Haroldl  Regis.  93 

arum  fcopuJos  in  adverfum  eciam  undique  nitentibus 
tanquam  ventis  .  obtredlancium  linguis  et  litteris  . 
ad  deftinatam  perduxiffe  ftacionem.  Sit  autem 
Deo  adjutori  noftro  omnis  honor  et  gloria  .  qui 
trinus  et  unus  folus  imperat  benedidtus  laudabilis 
gloriofus  et  fuperexaltatus  in  fecula.  Amen. 


NARRATIO  INCLUSI  QUI  SANCTO  SUCCESSIT 
HAROLDO  DE  TRANSITU  IPSIUS  SANCTISSIMI 
REGIS  ET  DE  MIRACULIS  PER  EUM  PATRATIS 
POSTQUAM  MIGRAVIT  AD  DoMINUM  PREMISSA 
RELACIONE  COMPENDIOSA  DE  HITS  QUE  GESSIT 
AC  PERTULIT  EX  QUO  TERRENUM  AMISIT  IM- 

PERIUM. 

ICRIPTUM  eft  quoniam  tribulacio1 
pacienciam  operatur  paciencia :  pro- 
bacionem  .  probacio  vero :  fpem.  Ad 
probacionem  paciencie  .  et  fanfte 
fpei  confirmacionem  .  permittit  quandoque  Deus 
fuos  tribulari  in  prefenti  ut  liberet  a  tribulacione 
perhenni  .  unde  et  virum  venerabilem  Haroldum 
regem  quondam  Anglorum  permifit  in  tempore 
tribulari .  et  ab  hoftibus  fuperari  et  a  regno  fuo  eici2 . 
ne  de  vidtoria  prius  habita  fuperbiret  .  et  in 
regnum  elevatus  profperitatis  occafione  amorem 
divinum  poftponeret  .  fet  in  paupertate  pofitus 
fandtius  et  beacius  viveret  dum  a  terrenis  occupa- 
cionibus  animum  omnino  liberum  haberet.  Igitur 

1   i  Rom.  v.  3,  4.  2  H.M. ;  ejici,  G. 


Vita  Haroldi  Regis.  95 

poft  regni  fui  amiflionem  et  plagarum  fuarum 
quas  a  Normannis  pertulerat  curacionem  .  tanquam 
peregrinus  ad  loca  fancta  per  terras  multas  tune1  f- 
arripuit  .  et  diu  in  tali  peregrinacione  propter 
Deum  laboravit.  Poftmodum  vero  fenedlute 
aridus  .  et  diuturnitate  itineris  confraclus  fatigato 
corpori  alterius  modi  religionem  indicere  ftuduit. 
Set  quia  natalis  foli  Temper  dulcis  efle  folet  in- 
habitacio  :  ad  Angliam  cujus  ante  rex  extitit  con- 
cito  properavit  .  ut  ibi  pauper  et  vilis :  et  habitu 
humilis :  refiduum  vite  fue  percurreret :  ubi 
quondam  rex  dives  et  fublimis  .  in  veftibus  amidus 
preciofis  .  floruerat  .  et  tanto  apud  Deum  ejus 
crefceret  meritum  .  quanto  benigniorem  gereret 
animum  quod  cotidie2  pofTet  adverfarios  fuos 
intueri  .  et  in  regno  quod  amiferat  profperari  et 
fecundum  preceptum  Domini  pro  eis  Deum 
fideliter  deprecari.  Poftquam  natalis  foli  fines 
attigit  eremitice  vite  folitudinem  elegit  et  ibi  in 
pluribus  locis  converfatus  ab  omnibus  incognitus 
ufque  quo  cunctis  terrenis  extremum  valefaceret 
fideliter  Deo  miniftravit.  Non  autem  animi 
levitate  facta  eft  ab  eo  locorum  mutacio  .  fet  quere- 
bat  ubi  quiecius  ferviret  Deo.  Habuit  autem  idem 
vir  nobilis  miniftrum  quondam  Moyfen  nomine  . 
qui  michi  qui  hec  fcribo  inclufo  in  eodem  loco 
apud  Ceftriam  ubi  dominus  Haroldus  heremita 
et  amicus  Dei  obiit:  per  biennium  miniftravit. 
Eodem  vero  Moyfe  .  et  viris  fidelibus  referentibus 

1  H. ;  iter,  M.G.    This  paffage  clearly  fhows  that  G.  copied 
M.,  and  did  not  collate  his  text  upon  the  MS.  itfelf. 

2  H.M. ;  quotidie,  G. 


96  Vita  Haroldi  Regis. 

ea  que  fecuntur  multa  tamen  pretermittens  bre- 
viter  et  fideliter  narrabo.  Pervenit  autem  tandem 
vir  Domini  ad  Salopeflyra1  fcilicet  ad  territorium 
quod  Cefwrthin2  nominatur  .  et  ibi  per  feptennium 
eodem  Moyfe  illi  miniftrante  heremiticam]  vitam 
ducensvalde  inquietabatur  a  latronibus  Wallenfibus . 
et  dampnis  et  verberibus  vehementer  et  fepiflime 
affligebatur.  Que  omnia  pacienter  fuftinuit  .  in 
omnibus  gracias  Deo  humiliter  exhibuit.  Set  tamen 
poftmodum  ne  tribulacio  exterior  interioris  hominis 
quietem 3  a  moderaminis  fui  ftatu  deiceret  :4  locum 

1  H. ;  Salopeffyra[m],  M. ;  Salopeffyram,  G. 

2  H. ;  Cefwrthin,  M.G.     Michel  makes  no  attempt  to  feek 
for  this    place  ;    Giles  contents   himfelf  with   faying,   "  The 
fituation  of  this  place  has  not  been  identified."     There  can, 
however,    be  no   doubt   that   "  Cefwrtbin "    is  identical   with 
Cbefwardine,  a  parifh  in  the  hundred  of  North  Bradford,  in 
the  northern  divifion  of  the  county  of  Salop,  four  miles  fouth- 
caft   of  Market  Drayton.     The   church   is  dedicated  to   St. 
Swithin.     According  to  Eyton,  Antiquities  of  Sbropjbire,  x.  28, 
etc.,   Domefday  Book   enters    the    manor  of  Cifeworde-and- 
Ceppecanole,  now   Chipnall,  in  the  StafFordmire  hundred   of 
Pireholle,  held  immediately  of  the  king  by  Robert  de  Stafford. 
The    celebrated    Countefs    Godiva   held    it  at   the    time    of 
Harold's    hermitage    there.     The    name    has    been   varioufly 
fpelled    Chefewurda,    Chefworda,    Chefwordyn,    Chefworth, 
Chefew'rthin,  Chefeword,  and  fo  forth.    It  pafled  into  pofleflion 
of  the  great  family  of  Le  Strange,  but    Eyton  was  unaware  of 
the   mention  of  the    place    in    this    MS.     John    Le   Strange 
granted  the  advowfon  of  the  church  to  Haughmond  Abbey. 
There  does  not  appear  to  be  extant  any  documentary  evidence 
mowing  the  exadl   time  when  the   manor  pafled  out  of  the 
county  of  Stafford  and  was  accounted  to  be  in  Shropshire,  but 
from  the  text  of  this  paffage  it  is  clear  that  this  had  already 
taken  place  before  the  writing  of  the  MS.     Eyton  mows  inci- 
dentally that  it  muft  have  been  at  fome  period  between  1 1 89 
and  1255  ;  at  the  latter  date  it  enters  as  a  parcel  of  Bradford 
hundred  in  the  roll  of  that  hundred. 

8  quietem,  omitted,  M.G.  *  H.M. ;  dejicerct,  G. 


Vita  Haroldi  Reg  is.  97 

ilium  deferuit  .  et  predido  miniftro  ejus  fubfe- 
quente  .  Ceftriam  profedus  eft.  Ibique  in  capella 
fandi  Jacobi  que  fita  eft  fuper  fluvium  De  appella- 
tum :  extra  muros  civitatis  in  cimeterio1  fandi 
Johannis  Baptifte  per  feptennium :  fcilicet  ufque 
ad  mortem  .  heremitice  vivens  religiosiflime  con- 
verfabatur.  Utebatur  autem  ad  nudum  tamdiu 
lorica :  quoufque  tota  putrefieret  .  et  omnino  con- 
fumpta  videretur.  Scifluras  vero  ejus  .  et  portiun-f.  34 b. 
culas  diflblutas  miniftro  fuo  Moyfi  imperavit  ut  in 
fluvium  de  fecreto  proiceret2  .  ne  ipfum  ea  fuifle 
ufum  alicui  hominum  pateret.  Caftiffimus  quidem 
fuit  corpore  .  et  continens  corde  humilis  et  prudens. 
Cujus  condicionis  eflet  Temper  occultabat  ne  forte 
in  nimia  ab  hominibus  veneracione  haberetur  . 
unde  animus  elatus  a  reditudinis  tramite  laberetur  . 
et  apud  Deum  humilitatis  ipfius  meritum  minue- 
retur.  Raro  quidem  capella  exiit  fed  oracioni 
affidue  intendit  perficiens  quod  dominus  ait. 
Quia  oportefi  Jemper  or  are  et  non  deficere.  Ante, 
oculos  fuos  femper  pannum  pendentem  habuit  .  qui 
totam  fere  faciem  velabat  ita  quod  longiufcule 
iturus  dudoris  manu  indigebat.  Quare  autem  hoc 
fecerit  .  minifter  ejus  ignorabat  .  fed  forte  hoc 
agebat  ne  vultus  defedi  cicatricum  appareret 
obduccio  .  vel  ne  ad  cor  ejus  pateret  aditus  fecu- 
laribus  vanitatibus  dum  oculis  liber  concederetur 
egreflus  vel  ne  ab  aliquibus  qui  eum  prius  viderant 
veraciter  agnofceretur  et  ab  hominibus  venera- 
retur. 

1  H.M.;  caemetcrio,  G.  *  H'.M. ;  projicerct,  G. 

3  Luc.  xviii.  i. 


H 


D£    EXITU    EXTREMO    HAROLDI. 


PPROPINQUANTE  autem  die  exitus 
venerabilis1  viri  Haroldi  perventum 
eft  ad  hoc  quod  extreme  neceflitatis 
urgente  articulo  vir  fanctus  viatici 
falutaris  indigeret  folacio  .  Unde  accedens  facerdos  . 
quern  ego  bene  novi  Andreas  nomine  .  de  ecclefia 
fancti  Johannis  .  infirmum  vifitabat  et  illi  quiquid2 
mos  exigit  Chriftianus  devote  exhibebat.  Extre- 
mam  vero  ipfius  audiens  confeflionem  eum  interro- 
gavit  cujus  condicionis  vir  fuerit.  Cui  ille  .  "  Si 
michi  dixeris  in  verbo  Domini  quod  me  vivente 
quod  tibi  dixero  nulli  propalabis3  fatisfaciam  rationi 
tue  interrogationis."  Cui  facerdos.  "  In  periculo 
anime  mee  dico  tibi  quod  quicquid  mihi  dixeris 
omnibus  erit  incognitum  .  ufque  quo  extremum 
efflaveris  halitum."  Turn  ille  .  "  Verum  eft  quod 
rex  fui  quondam  Anglic  Haroldus  nomine  .  nunc 
autem  pauper  et  jacens  in  cinere  .  et  ut  celarem 
nomen  meum  appellari  me  feci  nomine  Chris- 
tianum." 

1  H.M.;  vencrabiliis,  G.  2  H. ;  quicquid,  M.G. 

*  H.G. ;  propalatis,  M. 


Vita  Haroldl  Regis.  99 

Non  diu  poft  hec  emifit  fpiritum :  et  jam  omnium 
hoftium  fuorum  vidor  migravit  ad  dominum. 
Sacerdos  vero  ftatim  omnibus  nunciavit  .  quod  ei 
vir  Dei  in  extrema  confeflione  intimavit  et  ipfum 
efle  certiflime  re  ...  -1 

1  Here  the  MS.  ends  abruptly  at  the  foot  of  the  page — 
rc[gem  Haroldum]  .  .  .  M. 


TRANSLATION. 


THE 


LIFE  OF  KING  HAROLD. 


PROLOGUE  TO  THE  LIFE  OF  THE  VENERABLE 
HERO  HAROLD,  FORMERLY  KING  OF  THE 
ENGLISH. 

UST  as  the  Holy  Scriptures  com- 
mend the  builders  of  the  ark  of  the 
covenant  under  the  difpenfation  of 
Mofes,  and  of  the  temple  of  the 
Lord  under  that  of  Solomon,  fo  alfo  do  they  deem 
thofe  men  worthy  of  praife  who  have  faithfully 
laboured  with  earneft  devotion  to  offer  or  prepare 
things  which  are  necefTary  for  the  building.  Ac- 
cording to  Nehemiah,  thofe  who  derided  the 
builders  are  overthrown  with  a  terrible  impreca- 
tion; the  rebuilders  of  Jerufalem,  having  been 
rewarded  with  hereditary  titles  by  Ezra,  fanctified 
an  everlafting  remembrance  of  their  name  and  their 
work  to  their  pofterity.  Such  a  confideration,  I 
truly  confefs,  vehemently  ftimulated  my  infigni- 
ficance,  although  it  is  of  flender  value  and  of 
tottering  ftrength,  to  contribute  fome  kind  of 
afliftance  to  the  holy  work  in  which  ye  toil, 
reverend  fathers.  There  is  added  to  this  ftimula- 


1 04          The  Life  of  King  Harold. 

tion,  moreover,  as  the  turn  runs  already  beyond 
meafure,  on  the  one  fide  a  brotherly  requeft  with 
friendly  perfuafion,  on  the  other  fide  an  anxious 
admoniming  with  a  paternal  command.  I  feel, 
indeed,  that  it  is  a  work  full  of  labour,  yet  I 
truft  it  is  replenifhed  with  its  own  reward,  and 
that  it  is  the  performing  of  your  wifhes  and  the 
outcome  of  our  own  eagernefs.  But  the  pains 
of  a  little  fpace  of  time  are  rightly  to  be  under- 
gone and  accepted,  with  the  height  of  our  ftrength, 
when  in  return  we  are  rewarded,  not  by  the 
applaufe  of  a  frail  and  fleeting  age,  but  rather  by 
that  of  a  praife  and  glory  which  will  endure  in 
that  place  where  an  eternal  honour  and  fplendour 
is  obtained.  Neverthelefs,  although  to  have  looked 
for  the  reward  of  tranfitory  praife  for  one's  labour 
on  one's  work,  is  to  have  loft  one's  trouble  and 
•one's  talk,  in  the  fame  way  to  accept  the  attraction 
of  a  favour,  not  indeed  fought  for,  although  freely 
beftowed,  is  to  have  deprived  one's  felf  of  the 
reward  of  internal  felf-confcioufnefs  and  of  the 
praife  of  the  eternal  Judge.  For  we  muft  bear  in 
mind  how  applicable  to  fuch  a  pofition  is  that 
declaration  couched  in  thefe  words :  Amen,  I  fay 
unto  you,  they  have  received  their  reward. 

Your  fatherly  authority,  then,  orders,  and  your 
brotherly  love  begs,  me  to  take  every  watchful 
care,  with  afliftance  gathered  together  on  all  fides, 
to  promote  a  remarkable  work  which,  begun 
indeed  excellently,  and  worthily  carried  on,  ye  do 
urgently  prefs  forward  to  a  praifeworthy  termina- 
tion, left  by  chance  any  ftore  of  things  needful 


The  Life  of  King  Harold.  105 

for  the  completion  of  this  undertaking  fhould  be 
wanting  to  the  dutiful  tafk.  For  ye  do  truly 
defire  that  a  work  of  remarkable  character  fuch 
as  this  is,  caft  in  the  form  of  a  fingle  book,  and 
compiled  from  various  records  written  by  our 
fathers,  and  ftudioufly  worked  out  to  the  praife, 
and  concerning  the  praife,  of  the  glorious  and 
God-bearing  Crofs,  with  the  memorable  deeds 
of  your  founder  (whofe  memory  we  do  cheer- 
fully blefs),  mould  be  rendered  famous,  and  that 
a  talk  dedicated  in  this  way  mould  be  completed 
with  fuch  a  cheer,  fo  to  fpeak.  The  defire  of 
your  holinefs  is  praifeworthy,  without  doubt, 
becaufe  it  is  the  refult  of  your  devotion,  and 
becaufe  it  has  a  good  end  in  view.  For  it  is, 
indeed,  a  mark  of  no  undue  devotion  of  yours, 
that  you  earneftly  defire,  by  the  medium  of  a 
literary  compofition,  to  hand  down  faithfully  to  a 
pofterity  which  is  about  to  be  born,  the  great 
deeds  of  fo  great  a  hero.  For,  of  a  truth,  ye  are 
held  bound,  by  juft  fuch  a  right,  to  illuftrate  by 
due  praife  of  his  virtues,  the  merits  of  your  own 
proper  patron  and  everlafting  benefactor,  as  on 
the  other  hand  ye  might  fo  be,  not  unduly, 
accufed  of  the  crime  of  ingratitude,  if  you,  his 
guardians  and  his  nurflings,  were  by  your  filence 
to  rob  pofterity  of  any  knowledge  of  the  efpecially 
deferving  notices  of  his  praife.  It  cannot  be  denied 
that  it  is  the  duty  of  that  excellent  prudence  of 
yours,  to  decree  that  the  praifes  of  one  who  was  a 
moft  devout  worfhipper  of  the  Holy  Crofs,  muft 
be  founded.  For,  indeed,  whatever  commenda- 


1 06  'The  Life  of  King  Harold. 

tion  is  deferved  by  the  merits  and  virtues  of  its 
fervant,  really  belongs  altogether  to  the  glory  of 
that  Holy  Crofs. 

And  in  all  this,  who  does  not  know  how  eager 
my  moderate  abilities  are,  in  no  idle  fpirit  to  fet 
to  work  at  profecuting  fo  good  a  book  with  a 
liberal  fpirit,  willingly  employing  whatever  my 
ftrength  can  propofe — yea,  rather  whatever  God's 
grace  can  endow  me  with  ?  If  I  eat  the  bread  of 
idlenefs,  which  belongs  to  you,  or  rather  to 
Harold — yea,  much  rather  to  the  Holy  Crofs  of 
you  both — the  more  I  behold  your  ferene  faces 
looking  at  me,  fo  much  the  more  ought  I  properly 
to  dread  a  feverer  condemnation  at  your  hands, 
if — which  God  forbid — it  mould  chance  that  I  be 
found,  I  will  not  fay  ungrateful,  but  carelefs,  after 
being  endowed  with  fo  many  benefits,  freely  and 
gracioufly  beftowed  as  they  indeed  are.  I  will, 
therefore,  comply  to  the  utmoft  of  my  ability 
with  your  wifhes.  I  will  mow  the  greateft  poflible 
gratitude  for  your  kindnefs,  provided  that  you  on 
your  part  keep  to  your  agreement  with  me.  That 
is,  that  you  diligently  fcrutinize  the  contents  of 
my  writings,  and  having  examined  them,  then  and 
then  only  approve  or  correct  them ;  rejecting  the 
unpolifhed  and  badly  exprefled  diction,  but  re- 
ferving,  if  you  think  right,  the  idea,  to  be  ex- 
preffed  as  it  mould  be,  in  a  more  elegant  ftyle. 
For  under  God's  guidance,  the  holy  band  of 
which  you  are  members,  is  not  lacking  in  highly 
educated  fuccefibrs  of  Bezeleel,  Aholiab,  or  Hyram, 
men  who  knew  well  how  to  employ,  in  fuitable 


Ljfe  of  King  Harold.  1 07 

places  and  fitting  ufes,  the  raw  material  offered 
up  by  a  fimple-minded  congregation  as  gifts 
to  the  Lord.  They  knew,  too,  how  with  the 
hand  of  a  mafter,  and  in  accordance  with  the 
circumftances  of  the  occafion,  to  polifh  each  fepa- 
rate  article  as  deftly  as  poflible,  to  prune  off  the 
fuperfluous,  to  arrange  the  things  wanting  in 
order,  to  adorn  the  things  that  were  fhapelefs. 
But  all  that  my  want  of  fkill  can  venture  to 
undertake,  is  to  hew  out  from  the  mountain-fide, 
and  place  upon  rafts,  a  quarry  in  fome  fmall 
degree  prepared  for  a  fabric,  and  to  pilot  it  down 
the  ftream  to  more  convenient  fites,  and  I  mail 
feel  that  I  have  done  this  when  I  have  handed 
down,  in  obedience  to  your  injunctions,  a  feries  of 
notices  which  are  calculated  to  benefit  the  fimple 
who  will  take  the  trouble  to  ftudy  them,  gathered 
together  from  ancient  books,  from  current  writings, 
from  true  accounts  of  the  faithful,  be  they  who 
they  .may,  and  gleaned  fo  as  to  form  the  principal 
points  of  intereft  in  this  work.  So  may  the  gentle 
and  placid  breeze  of  your  prayers  waft  into  the 
harbour  of  a  favourable  more  the  fragile  bark  of 
my  compofition,  rigged  as  it  is  with  the  banner 
of  the  Crofs  for  its  fail,  and  the  prayers  of  its 
faithfulnefs  for  its  figurehead.  Amen. 

END  OF  TH-E  PROLOGUE. 


HERE  BEGIN  THE  CHAPTERS. 

I.  WHAT  a  mirror  of  cheerfulnefs  and  gentlenefs 
mines  forth  in  the  ads  of  King  HAROLD.     How 
he  was  the  brother  of  the  Queen,  whom  the  holy 
Edward  married.     How  his  father  Godwin,  efcap- 
ing  the  fnare  of  King  Canute,  received  the  latter 's 
fifter  to  wife ;  and  how  Harold  fignally  triumphed 
over  the  vices  of  thofe  who  brought  him  up. 

II.  How  Wales  was  nearly  deftroyed  by  Harold; 
and  how  he  recovered  from  paralyfis  by  the  virtue 
of  the  Holy  Crofs  of  Waltham. 

III.  How  Harold  built,  enriched,  adorned,  and 
regulated    the    Church    of    the   Holy   Crofs   at 
Waltham ;  and  how  Henry,  King  of  the  Englifh, 
abolimed  the  fecular  canons,  and  diftinguimed  the 
place  by  the  appointment  of  regular  canons. 

IV.  How  it  was   divinely  ordained   that  this 
man  mould  be  raifed  to  the  petition  of  King,  and, 
after  having  defeated  his  enemies,  mould  in  his 
turn  be  conquered  by  other  enemies  and  depofed 
from  his  kingdom ;  and  concerning  a  very  pious 


The  Life  of  King  Harold.  \  09 

anchorite,  who  had  been  a  fervant  of  Harold  after 
he  became  a  hermit  himfelf. 

V.  How  a  certain  Saracen  woman  found  him 
half  dead  amongft  his  aflailants,  brought  him  to 
Winchefter,  and  healed  him  as  he  lay  there  con- 
cealed for  two  years ;  and  how  he  fought  out  the 
Saxons   and   Danes  to    collect   allies   againft   the 
Normans,  but  was  unfuccefsful. 

VI.  How  at  length,  coming  to  himfelf,  he  per- 
ceived that  God  was  oppofing  him  in  his  worldly 
path ;  wherefore,  conforming  himfelf  to  the  Crofs 
of  Chrift  that  he  might  the  better  triumph  over 
the  old  enemy,  he  rejoices  that  he  has  fuffered 
defeat  at  the  hands  of  men. 

VII.  How  he  entered  on  a  long  pilgrimage  to 
obtain  the  prayers  of  holy  men ;  and  how,  before 
he  became  a  King,  he  vifited  the  refting-places  of 
the  holy  Apoftles. 

VIII.  The   admiration   of  the   writer,   with  a 
brief  exclamation  on   the   goodnefs   of  God,  by 
which  it  happens  that  the  fins  even  of  the  elect 
work  in  them  for  good. 

IX.  How  many  things  are  faid  by  many  people 
about  Harold's  fin  ;  and  concerning  the  oak  hard 
by  Rouen,  under  which  he  made  the  oath,  which 
remains,  though  ftript  of  its  bark,  to  this  day. 

X.  The  excufe  fome  make  for  Harold,  whereby, 
exonerating  him  from  perjury,  they  aftert  that  it 
was  with  the  fanction  of  God  and  confent  of  the 


1 1  o  The  Life  of  King  Harold. 

• 

holy  Edward  that  he  became  King ;  and  concern- 
ing the  vifion  of  the  Abbot  Elfinus,  in  which  the 
holy  Edward  declared  that  Harold  fhould  be 
conqueror  over  the  Norwegians. 

XI.  A  wonderful   account  concerning  a  Holy 
Crofs  which  is  alleged   to   have  bowed  its  head 
to   Harold   as   he   was   haftening   to   battle,  and 
certain  other  very  aftounding  miracles  concerning 
this  Crofs,  proved  to  be  undoubtedly  true. 

XII.  Different  interpretations  of  different  men 
concerning  the  above-mentioned  figns  of  the  bow- 
ing Crofs  and  the  withered  oak ;  and  how  Harold, 
by  judging   himfelf  favourably,    anticipated    the 
divine  judgment  and  fears  not  man's. 

XIII.  How,    after   many   years   fpent    abroad, 
Harold,  returning  to  England  for  the  purpofe  of 
exercifing  his  patience  and  meeknefs,  caufed  him- 
felf to  be  called  CHRISTIAN,' and  lived  ten  years  in 
certain  rock   in  folitude;  with  a  fhort  invective 
againft  the  Antichrifts  of  that  time. 

XIV.  How   Harold   afterwards   fpent    a   long 
time   in   various   places   on   the   borders    of  the 
Welfh,  bore   their   repeated   afTaults   in  patience, 
hiding  his  face  with  a  cloth,  and  changing  his 
name  for  another  left  he  mould  by  fome  means  be 
recognised ;    how    at    length   the    cruelty   of  his 
perfecutors  was  changed  into  veneration  for  him. 

XV.  How  Harold,  the  man  of  God,  avoided 
the  obfequious  who  perfecuted  him,  whom  he  had 
approached,  and  long  borne  with  ;  and  how  a  place 
of  reft  was  appointed  for  him  by  a  voice  that  fell 


1'he  Life  of  King  Harold.  1 1 1 

from  heaven  ;  and  how  he  hinted  in  ambiguous 
words  to  thofe  who  afked  him  that  he  was  Harold ; 
and  how  the  truth  of  the  matter  will  be  mown 
more  fully  in  the  account  given  by  his  fuccefTor. 

XVI.  The  reader  is  advifed  not  to  defpife  the 
reading  which  he  feels  differs  from  the  opinions  of 
fome ;  and  concerning  the  three  occafions  of  thofe 
who  think  differently  about  this  prefent  fubject ; 
and  concerning  the  threefold  miftake  of  William 
of  Malmefbury  on  the  fate  of  Harold. 

XVII.  What  happened  to  the  people  of  Wal- 
tham  in  their  holy  anxiety  concerning  the  burial 
of  their  patron ;  and  how  they  were  mifled  by  a 
woman's  miftake. 

XVIII.  How  a  brother  of  Harold,  Gurth  by 
name,   replied  to  Walter  the  Abbot,   or  others, 
when  aflced  concerning  the  afhes  or  the  burial  of 
his  brother. 

XIX.  How  the  fucceflbr  of  the  man  of  God, 
writing  a  true  account  of  the  deeds  of  the  moft 
blefTed  Harold,  has  on  two  occafions  afligned  in- 
appropriate reafons  for   his   actions;  with  a  dif- 
cuflion  on  the  firft  reafon,  and  a  full  difproval  of 
the  fame  by  the  production  of  the  evidence  of 
various  opinions. 

XX.  The  weaknefs  of  the  fecond  reafon  afligned, 
and  the  writer's  warning  to  the  reader ;  and  on 
the  difficulty  of  patching  up  materials  torn  in- 
difcriminately  by  ancient  writers. 

HERE  END  THE  CHAPTERS. 


HERE    BEGINS  THE  LIFE   OF  HAROLD,  SERVANT 
OF  GOD,  FORMERLY  KlNG  OF  THE  ENGLISH. 

CHAP.  I. — What  a  mirror  of  cheerfulnefs  and 
gentlenefs  Jhines  forth  in  the  atts  of  King  Harold. 
Plow  he  was  the  brother  of  the  Queen,  whom  the 
holy  Edward  married.  How  his  father  Godwin, 
ejc aping  the  Jnare  of  King  Canute,  received  the 
latter 's  fifter  to  wife  ;  and  how  Harold  fignally 
triumphed  over  the  vices  of  thofe  who  brought  him 
up. 

MHMMM 

|O  review  the  actions  of  the  moft 
illuftrious  and  rightfully  appointed 
King  HAROLD,  at  this  time  duly  and 
lawfully  crowned,  is  nothing  elfe  than 
to  difplay  to  pious  minds  a  moft  brilliant  reflection 
of  a  divine  ferenity  and  meeknefs.  And  that  this 
may  the  more  clearly  appear  we  will  take  care  to 
mow  forth  to  our  readers  clearly  and  briefly  the 
beginning,  progrefs,  and  ending  of  his  warfare 
with  the  world  and  with  Chrift.  We  mail,  indeed, 
have  fpoken  truth  when  we  called  him  a  king 
moft  illuftrious  and  lawfully  crowned,  for  by  ruling 


The  Life  of  King  Harold.  1 1 3 

himfelf  aright  and  by  fubmitting  himfelf  humbly 
to  Him,  to  ferve  whom  is  to  be  a  king,  he  obtained 
firft  a  crown  of  juftice,  and  afterwards  a  crown  of 
eternal  glory.  Godwin,  a  moft  powerful  Earl,  begat 
him  from  a  fifter  of  Canute,  King  of  the  Englifh 
and  the  Danes,  which  Harold  was  brother  indeed  of 
the  revered  Queen  whom  the  King  and  moft  holy 
confeflbr  Edward  had  married.  And  although 
me  had  been  united  in  an  aufpicious  marriage  with 
him,  yet  fhort  of  confummation,  and  though  both 
of  them,  forfooth,  preferved  their  flower  of  per- 
petual maidenhood,  me  was  yet  a  caufe  of  much 
preferment  to  her  father's  family.  It  is  plain, 
however,  that  her  father,  or  fome  of  the  other 
members  of  her  family,  had  been  heavily  branded 
with  the  mark  of  treafon  and  other  crimes. 

Godwin,  indeed,  firft  entangled  himfelf  in  thefe 
mifdeeds,  from  the  neceflity  of  averting  an  immi- 
nent deftruction,  but  afterwards  he  wanders  farther 
in  deceit.  Compelled  to  ufe  deceit  under  pretence 
of  enfuring  his  own  fafety,  while  once  he  yields  to 
his  wifhes,  he  afterwards  committed  fraud  more 
freely  when  he  faw  his  profperity  declining.  For 
when  the  above-mentioned  King  of  Denmark  had 
ufurped  the  diadem  of  England,  and  he  faw  that 
Godwin,  a  man  endued  with  incredible  cunning, 
and  no  lefs  audacity,  was  gradually  rifmg  to  a  high 
pofition,  he  himfelf,  a  foreigner,  began  to  fear  the 
bold  fpirit  of  this  young  native,  armed  as  it  was 
with  power  and  craft.  And  although  he  had 
found  his  induftry  very  ufeful  to  him  on  many 
occafions,  yet  conceiving  in  his  mind  fomething  of 


H4          Tfo  Lfi  °f  King  Harold. 


the  fpirit  of  Saul,  he  determined  to  ruin  by 
trickery  this  moft  ftrenuous  defpoiler  and 
champion,  fince  it  was  not  eafy  to  crum  him 
openly  except  by  fpiteful  malice.  Having  thought 
out,  therefore,  a  plan,  he  fends  Godwin  into  Den- 
mark, as  if  on  important  bufinefs  concerning  both 
kingdoms,  having  in  his  heart  fome  fuch  thought 
as  this  :  "  Let  not  my  hand  be  upon  him,  but  the 
hand  of  the  Danes."  Now  as  he  was  failing  along 
in  mid-ocean,  in  a  vefTel  fitted  with  the  moft  lavifh 
appointments,  a  fufpicion  began  to  agitate  the 
mind  of  the  youth.  For  he  was  bearer  of  letters 
fealed  with  the  King's  fignet,  one  for  each  of  the 
chief  men  of  that  country,  the  contents  of  which 
he  was  quite  ignorant.  Breaking,  therefore,  care- 
fully one  of  the  feals,  he  learnt  from  the  brief  en- 
clofure  that  he  would  be  fhortly  given  over  to  the 
punimment  of  death,  when  he  arrived  in  port,  if 
he  were  to  difcharge  any  further  his  duty  as  letter- 
carrier.  For  the  tenour  of  the  writing  was  that 
whoever  mould  firft  learn  the  contents  of  the 
letter,  was  immediately  to  ftrike  off  the  head  of 
its  bearer,  Godwin  by  name. 

This  new  Uriah  grew  pale  when  he  found  that 
his  deftruclion  was  being  compafled  by  the  King, 
and  prepares  (to  make  a  long  ftory  fhort)  to 
efcape  the  trick  by  another  trick.  This  is  what  he 
did  :  he  broke  open  and  took  out  each  letter  from 
its  feal,  and  fubftituted  a  frefh  letter  written  by 
the  clever  hand  of  a  clerk,  the  fubftance  of  which 
was  that  Godwin  was  to  be  received  with  great 
and  univerfal  rejoicings  ;  to  receive  in  marriage  the 


The  Life  of  King  Harold.  1 1 5 

King's  fifter,  and  that  they  all  were  to  yield  him 
obedience  in  what  concerned  the  King's  bufinefs, 
as  they  would  the  King  himfelf  if  he  were  prefent. 
Thus  the  King's  command  was  changed  to  the 
King's  advantage.  Thus  the  foldier  changes  his 
foldier's  pay  ;  thus  an  undeferved  punimment  is 
unaccomplished,  and  a  glory  that  is  deferved 
accrues  to  him  who  earned  it ;  thus  at  length  the 
King  receives  as  a  brother  him  whom  he  had 
hitherto  found  but  a  ufeful  foldier,  and  making 
him  foon  after  a  ftate  officer,  found  in  him  for  the 
future  an  ever-watchful  and  prudent  minifter. 

Though  Godwin  was  received  with  much  favour 
by  the  Danes  by  this  occurrence,  yet  he  came  to 
be  on  ill  terms  with  many  of  his  own  family ;  and 
fome  members  alfo  of  the  royal  family  he  deftroyed 
by  treachery,  of  whom  one  was  the  brother  of  the 
holy  Edward:  and  thus  not  only  againft  his 
fellow-countrymen,  but  alfo  againft  his  natural 
lords  he  committed  not  a  few  offences.  But  on 
this  matter  let  him  who  wifhes  to  know  feek 
elfewhere.  As  far  as  pertains  to  the  fubjecl:  in 
hand,  it  is  enough  that  we  have  juft  briefly  touched 
on  fuch  things,  left  we  mould  feem  to  have  patted 
over,  without  confederation,  thofe  other  matters 
which  we  know  that  people,  who  underftand  little 
about  them,  have  perverted  to  the  difcredit  of 
Harold,  the  fervant  of  God,  for  wife  men  fee 
aright  that  thefe  things  pertain  in  the  higheft 
degree  to  his  renown.  For  he  who,  by  divine 
favour,  has  overcome  a  vice  which,  as  they  would 
have  it,  nature  has  inflicted,  and  which  focial 


ii6  The  Life  of  King  Harold. 

habits  have  formed,  has  certainly  gained  a  greater 
victory  in  that  he  has  overcome  and  got  rid  of  the 
felf-fame  vice  in  which  he  was  born  and  reared ; 
for  though  Harold  even,  it  is  afTerted,  feems  to 
have  given  way  to  vice  in  his  youth,  he  was  con- 
fidered  to  have  fuffered  violence  by  his  nature  and 
rearing.  It  is  plain,  then,  that,  by  the  help  of  Him 
who  from  the  fame  lump  of  clay  makes  one  vefTel 
to  honour  and  another  to  difhonour,  this  circum- 
ftance,  which  had  been  caft  up  againft  him  to  his 
difcredit  by  ignorant  men,  was  turned  by  Harold 
to  his  virtue's  benefit,  and  to  the  advancement  of 
his  honour.  Thus  a  thorn  brings  forth  bright 
red  rofes,  and  produces,  fo  to  fpeak,  fnow-white 
lilies,  from  whofe  natural  functions  the  meaner 
property  of  the  thorn  fubtracts  not,  but  rather 
adds  to  it,  from  the  combination,  an  increafe  of 
beauty. 


CHAP.  II. — How  Wales  was  nearly  deftroyed 
by  Harold;  and  how .  he  recovered  from  paralyfis 
by  the  virtue  of  the  Holy  Crofs  of  Waltham. 

UT  how  Harold  excelled  in  ftrength 
of  body,  and  how  famous  he  became 
for  fhrewdnefs  of  mind  and  vigour 
in  arms,  was  proved  by  the  way  he 
fubdued  Wales — aye,  and  nearly  deftroyed  it  to 
extermination.  Thefe  victories  gave  him  a  con- 
fpicuous  pofition  even  during  the  lifetime  of  the 
holy  Edward ;  and  through  them  he  acquired,  by 
his  bravery,  a  peace  and  tranquillity  moft  fervice- 
able  to  the  King  and  the  whole  kingdom. 

Meanwhile,  though  he  feemed  to  be  greater  than 
his  contemporaries  in  uprightnefs  and  power,  and 
even  feemed  to  outihine  the  higheft  princes  of 
the  kingdom,  the  hand  of  the  Almighty,  which 
ftrikes  as  well  as  heals,  afflicted  his  flefh  with  a 
grievous  ftroke,  in  order  that  he  might  obtain  by 
his  prefent  and  future  wounds  a  remedy  for  his 
foul.  Phyficians  call  paralyfis  that  fpecies  of  difeafe 
by  which  a  man's  body,  when  affected  by  it, 


I 1 8  The  Life  of  King  Harold. 

forgets  its  proper  functions,  and  deprives  him  of 
his  accuftomed  duties,  for  it  fuddenly  renders  the 
part  which  it  has  attacked,  or  the  whole  of  the 
body,  fenfelefs,  torpid,  and,  as  it  were,  dead. 
Harold,  fuddenly  attacked  and  proftrated  by  this 
affliction,  becomes  an  occafion  of  an  extraordinary 
forrow,  for  all  people  grieved  for  him,  efpecially 
the  King ;  for  the  latter,  as  if  by  fome  prefenti- 
ment  of  future  things,  loved  Harold,  and  held 
him  dear  beyond  all  others,  though  it  is  faid  that 
he  looked  on  fome  members  of  that  family  with  a 
certain  degree  of  fufpicion  and  hatred.  And  it 
was  not  the  nearnefs  of  kinfhip,  pleafant  though  it 
was,  nor  that  excellence  of  honour  and  fmgular 
induftry  with  which  he  was  endowed,  but  fimply 
a  divine  infpiration  which,  it  is  thought,  produced 
in  this  moft  pious  King's  mind  fuch  a  predilection 
and  favour  towards  Harold.  It  tends,  indeed,  to 
Harold's  honour  at  this  period,  that  a  man,  full 
of  God,  and  not  ignorant  on  many  occafions  of 
the  divine  purpofe,  mould  love  him,  and  love  him 
the  more  intenfely  that  he  forefaw  that  Harold 
mould  be  an  everlafting  co-heir  with  him  in 
heaven,  rather  than  his  temporary  fucceflbr  on 
earth.  Therefore  the  King's  own  fpecial  phyficians, 
befides  others  felected  from  all  quarters  by  entreaty 
or  payment,  gather  round  the  fick  man,  and  try 
everything  that  art  or  conjecture  can  fuggeft,  but 
the  power  of  man  cannot  put  afide  the  hand  of  the 
Almighty. 

The  fad  news  reached  the  ears  of  the  King  of 
the  Alemanni,   who  was  both  near  akin  to  the 


The  Life  of  King  Harold.  1 1 9 

King  and  clofely  united  to  him  in  affection  and 
friendship.  At  his  Court  there  dwelt  a  certain 
phyfician  named  Ailard,  a  man  moft  trufted  by 
reafon  of  his  double  practice  in  the  art,  as  well 
great  fkill  as  experience,  but,  what  is  of  greater 
value,  the  grace  of  God  mowed  him  much  favour 
in  effecting  the  cure  of  the  fick.  Him  therefore 
the  Emperor  refolved  to  fend  with  all  fpeed  to  his 
dear  friend  the  King,  that  he  might  apply  his 
cure  to  the  vigorous  young  man.  On  being  led 
to  the  fick  man  Ailard  carefully  examined  the 
nature  of  the  illnefs,  and  devoted  every  attention 
to  him ;  but  every  labour  is  of  no  avail  when  a 
heavenly  worker  operates  in  opposition  to  the  art 
of  man. 

At  that  time  a  ftone  figure  of  our  crucified 
King  had  recently  been  revealed  and  difcovered 
by  the  heavenly  direction,  which,  having  been 
brought  by  God's  defire  to  Waltham,  was  famous 
in  that  place  for  its  miraculous  virtues.  The 
phyfician  therefore,  after  confideration,  perceiving 
that  the  Author  of  Nature  was  acting  in  oppofition 
to  the  powers  of  Nature's  art,  and  that  the  whole 
fyftem  of  the  lower  nature  was  being  thoroughly 
deadened  by  the  counteracting  influences  of  Him 
who  created  nature,  forthwith  concluded  that  the 
man  was  being  afflicted  by  a  ftroke  of  His  power, 
from  whofe  hand  there  is  none  who  can  deliver. 
And  foon,  as  became  a  truftworthy  and  prudent 
man,  he  did  not  delay,  as  he  was  unable  to  cure 
him  by  his  hand,  to  procure  a  remedy  by  his 
mouth.  For,  unlike  deceitful  and  lying  doctors, 


1 20  The  Life  of  King  Harold. 

he  was  willing  that  the  help  which  he  already  felt 
could  not  be  given  by  him  mould  be  obtained 
from  other  fources.  He  did  not,  however,  leave 
the  fick  man  in  defpair,  but  directing  him  from  a 
hope  that  was  vain  to  a  hope  that  was  well 
founded,  he  perfuaded  him  to  put  his  hope  in 
Him  who  is  the  falvation  of  them  who  truft 
faithfully  in  Him.  And  that  he  might  the 
quicker  deferve  to  tafte  the  joys  of  a  much- 
defired  health,  he  exhorts  him  for  his  profit  to 
attend  to  the  offices  of  the  Crofs  which  giveth 
falvation,  and  to  vow  a  vow  to  it,  as  his  inward 
devotion  might  dictate  to  him. 

The  fick  man  liftened  to  the  plan  for  his  re- 
covery in  a  fenfible  fpirit,  and  fends  with  all  hafte 
to  the  place  where  the  miraculous  Crofs  difplayed  its 
mighty  gifts.  He  prays  with  great  earneftnefs  that 
the  guardians  of  the  place,  whofe  peculiar  duty  it 
was  to  minifter  at  the  health-giving  fymbol,  would 
deign  to  obtain  for  him  by  their  hearty  prayers 
pardon  for  his  fins  and  alleviation  of  his  fufferings ; 
in  a  word,  health  for  both  the  inner  and  outer  man. 
Nor  was  the  mercy  of  the  Saviour  long  wanting 
to  him  who  afked  for  health  with  a  faith  unfeigned, 
for  foon  the  pain  and  weaknefs  of  his  body  grew 
lefs ;  but  as  he  became  ftronger  his  love  and  devotion 
for  the  obfervances  of  the  Holy  Crofs  wonderfully 
increafed.  And  thus  reftored  in  a  fhort  time  to 
perfect  health,  he  proved  by  acts  of  magnificence 
how  indebted  and  devoted  he  was  to  the  medicine 
by  which  he  had  regained  his  health.  For  coming 
to  the  Holy  Crofs  of  Waltham,  he  paid  the  vows 


The  Life  of  King  Harold.  1 2 1 

he  had  made  for  his  health,  offered  coftly  prefents, 
gave  rich  gifts  to  the  attendants,  commending 
himfelf  to  the  guardianfhip  of  that  glorious  Crofs, 
and  intending  to  endow  it  with  ftill  more  exalted 
honour.  Rejoiced,  he  at  length  departed  from 
the  place  in  body,  but  not  in  fpirit,  and  prefented 
himfelf  fafe  and  found  to  the  King,  and  to  the 
Queen  his  fifter.  The  Queen  congratulates  her 
brother :  the  King  rejoices  with  his  foldier :  the 
whole  Court  is  glad  with  a  joyous  exultation, 
not  becaufe  Harold  had  recovered  his  health,  but 
becaufe  it  was  from  Heaven  he  had  recovered  it. 
All,  indeed,  with  one  mind  applauded  ;  but  the 
King,  as  he  was  holieft,  rejoices  with  greater 
feeling.  He  indeed  excelled  all  others  in  a  double 
joy,  becaufe  he  was  wont  to  find  delight  in  the 
virtues  of  Chrift,  who  brings  to  pafs  fuch  holy 
works,  and  to  feed  on  thofe  advances  of  devotion 
and  faith  which  the  accomplishment  of  fuch 
miracles  was  calculated  to  ftrengthen  in  the  love 
of  the  fame  moft  Holy  Redeemer. 


CHAP.  HI.— How  Harold  built,  enriched, 
adorned,  and  regulated  the  Church  of  the  Holy 
Crofs  at  Waltham ;  and  how  Henry,  King  of  the 
Englifli,  aboliflied  thejecular  canons,  and  diftinguiflied 
the  -place  by  the  appointment  of  regular  canons. 

UT  now  obferve  that  this  man,  in 
whom  and  through  whom  a  virtue, 
thus  experienced  and  difplayed,  gave 
to  fb  many  an  incentive  to  a  virtuous 
life,  could  think  or  fpeak  of  nothing  elfe  but  how 
he  could  make  an  excellent  and  fitting  return  for 
fuch  divine  benefits,  and  how  he  could,  in  com- 
penfation,  give  joy  to  that  holy  Crofs  with  an 
honour  worthy  of  a  health  reftored.  But  in  pro- 
portion as  he  applied  himfelf  more  zealoufly  for 
the  Crofs's  honour,  and  ftrove  for  its  glory,  fo 
much  the  more  exceedingly  did  the  favour  of 
Heaven  enrich  him  with  increafe  of  virtues  and 
devotion,  with  which  manner  of  exchange  he  was 
greatly  delighted,  and  endeavoured  the  more  in- 
tently, by  difplaying  gratitude  for  gifts  he  had 
received,  to  deferve  ftill  more  valuable  benefits. 


The  Life  of  King  Harold.  123 

He  confiders,  alfo,  that  he  is  bound,  for  thefe 
fubftantial  favours,  to  that  man  whofe  heavenly 
piety  had  unlocked  to  him  the  approaches  to  fb 
many  privileges,  and  refolves  to  prefent  him  with 
a  reward  worthy  of  his  faith  and  devotion.  For 
there  were  only  two  clergy  there  to  pray  and  take 
charge  of  the  fervice  and  wormip  of  the  Crofs, 
though  they,  indeed,  feemed  content  with  their 
fmall  emolument  and  humble  dwellings. 

But  this  excellent  man,  eager  to  exalt  the  place 
and  its  wormip  with  all  clafTes  of  its  worfhippers, 
propofes  to  build  there  a  new  temple,  to  increafe 
the  number  of  attendants,  and  to  augment  their 
revenues;  and  in  order  that  its  fame  and  the  throng 
of  its  clergy  might  difplay  the  place  in  the  eyes 
of  mankind,  ennobled  as  it  had  been  by  heavenly 
gifts,  more  famous  and  more  glorious,  he  caufed, 
by  a  prudent  arrangement,  fchools  to  be  founded 
there,  under  the  direction  of  Mafter  Ailard,  the 
preferver  of  his  health,  as  has  been  juft  now  narrated. 
Nor  was  he  flow  to  bring  forth  that  which  he 
had  conceived  in  his  mind.  Foundations  of  a 
large  church  are  rapidly  laid  ;  the  walls  rife ;  lofty 
columns  at  equal  diftances  unite  the  walls  with 
interlacing  arcades  or  vaults ;  a  roof  of  leaden  plates 
keeps  out  the  wind  and  the  inclemencies  of  the 
weather.  The  number  of  clergy  is  increafed  from  a 
fhameful  two  to  the  myftic  twelve  of  the  company 
of  the  Apoftles,  and  for  this  excellent  reafon,  that 
the  fame  number  of  men  who  had  told  forth  Chrift's 
glory  to  the  world  from  the  beginning,  might  ferve 
in  eternal  praife  in  the  temple  of  His  holy  Crofs. 


1 24  The  Life  of  King  Harold. 

He  alfo,  with  a  fplendid  liberality,  endowed  them 
with  eftates  and  pofleffions,  that  they  might  have 
fufficient  for  their  neceflities ;  and  he  obtained  a 
confirmation  of  thefe  gifts  by  the  King's  authority. 
Now,  if  we  attempt  to  defcribe  at  length  the 
number  of  gifts,  the  value  and  varied  character  of 
the  veflels  and  ornaments  with  which  he  ennobled 
this  houfe  of  God,  the  multiplicity  of  facts  might 
perhaps  detract  from  the  exactnefs  of  the  narrative. 
But  left  the  account  of  his  munificence  mould  be 
loft  altogether,  or  in  this  particular — and  it  is 
known  that  a  violent  jealoufy  has  aimed  at  this — 
it  is  worth  while  to  endeavour,  with  a  fpirit  of 
fervent  zeal  (fince  the  real  fubftance  of  the  facts 
themfelves  has  been  loft),  to  make  known  to 
thofe  who  wifh  to  confider  them,  the  madows,  fo 
to  fpeak,  of  the  facts.  We  have  therefore  thought 
good  to  infert  on  the  prefent  page  an  account  of 
thofe  things  which,  through  jealoufy  of  Harold,  as 
they  fay,  were  abftracted  from  the  Church  of  the 
Holy  Crofs  by  William,  the  firft  Norman  King 
of  the  Englifh,  and  carried  off  to  Neuftria.  For 
that  King,  as  we  read,  carried  off  to  Normandy, 
from  Waltham,  feven  fhrines,  of  which  three  were 
gold  and  four  filver-gilt,  full  of  relics  and  precious 
gems ;  four  books  of  Holy  Writ,  ornamented  with 
gold,  filver,  and  gems  in  their  bindings ;  four  large 
gold  and  filver  cenfers;  fix  candelabra,  of  which 
two  were  gold  and  the  reft  filver;  three  large 
pitchers  of  Greek  work,  filver  and  gilt;  four 
crofles  worked  in  gold  and  filver  and  precious  ftones ; 
one  crofs  that  was  caft  from  fifty  gold  marks ;  five 


The  Life  of  King  Harold.  125 

moft  precious  prieftly  veftments,  ornamented  with 
gold  and  gems ;  five  hoods,  ornamented  with  gold 
and  gems,  in  one  of  which  were  twelve  gold 
marks;  two  copes,  ornamented  with  gold  and 
gems ;  five  chalices,  two  gold  and  the  reft  filver ; 
four  altars  with  their  relics,  of  which  one  altar 
was  gold,  and  the  other  filver-gilt ;  one  filver 
wine-horn,  valued  at  one  hundred  millings;  ten 
phylacteries,  one  of  which  was  prepared  from  two 
gold  marks  and  precious  gems,  and  the  others 
from  gold  and  filver  ;  two  dulcimers ;  fome  faddles 
for  women,  worked  with  much  gold;  and  two 
bells  of  great  value. 

Thefe,  and  very  many  other  things,  which  it 
would  take  a  long  time  to  mention,  and  which  the 
ambition  of  the  Normans  would  confider  incom- 
parable, are  known  to  have  been  offered  to  the 
Holy  Crofs  by  Harold  in  his  piety,  and  taken  away 
by  William  through  hatred.  The  latter,  however, 
feems  to  have  palliated  the  heinoufnefs  of  the 
robbery  by  an  eafy  kind  of  compenfation — by 
difleminating  a  clear  account  of  the  progrefs  of 
events  by  which  the  Crofs  was  difcovered  and 
conveyed  to  Waltham,  wherein  it  is  alfo  more 
fully  expreffed  what,  and  how  many,  things  the 
holy  man,  in  a  wonderful  warmth  of  devotion, 
prefented  to  the  holy  place,  either  in  eftates,  or 
various  revenues,  or  in  a  multitude  of  things  per- 
taining to  the  fervice  or  adornment  of  the  church. 
But  as  my  pen  is  in  hafte  to  explain  what  the 
worfhipper  of  the  Crofs  did  and  fuffered  after  he 
offered  himfelf  as  a  fweet  facrifice  to  the  Lord, 


1 26  The  Life  of  King  Harold. 

bearing  his  crofs  now  daily  and  following  Chrift, 
we  proceed  to  relate  what  he  gave  from  his  own 
refources,  and  confecrated  to  the  Crofs  as  a  facrifice 
of  juftice  ;  which  things,  indeed,  after  the  removal 
of  many  of  the  moveables,  whatever  he  afligned  to 
the  place  in  lands  and  vills,  or  churches  and  other 
revenues,  to  all  appearance  it  ftill  poflefles,  without 
great  diminution,  yet  not,  as  is  faid,  without  fome 
lofs.  But  the  conftitution  of  the  Church  of  Waltham, 
we  fee,  was  formed  afrefli,  to  a  high  ftate  of  per- 
fection, in  our  time  by  King  Henry  the  Second,  of 
divine  memory.  For  the  canons,  who  were  under 
a  ilrict  rule  and  difcipline,  dedicated  by  Harold  to 
their  facred  watches,  finking  through  the  gradual 
lapfe  of  time  to  fecular  purfuits,  had  put  before 
the  facred  canonical  rule  the  emptinefs  of  fecular 
life.  For  deriving  their  name  from  both  words, 
the  "  faeculum  "  and  the  "  canon,"  they  divided 
the  meaning  of  their  name  in  reverfe  order,  for 
lufting  after  fecular  things  and  defpifing  the  canon 
rule,  they  weighed  the  knowledge  of  the  latter 
with  the  pleafures  of  the  former  in  a  falfe  balance ; 
wherefore  cafting  afide  their  facred  duties,  they, 
who  ought  to  have  fpent  their  time  in  the  halls  of 
the  Lord's  houfe,  ftrutted  about  in  the  common 
paths  of  the  world.  Thefe  men  being  at  length 
removed  from  their  office  by  the  holy  zeal  of  the 
above-mentioned  King,  the  fame  place  is  ennobled 
by  the  inftitution  of  regular  canons.  They 
happily,  uniting  the  Latin  rule  with  the  Greek 
canon,  preferve  in  their  life  the  virtues  of  the 
double  word  and  the  fimpte  matter,  fo  that  they 

* 


The  Life  of  King  Harold.  1 27 

ought  to  be  objects  of  the  greateft  veneration  both 
to  the  Greeks  and  the  Latins.  Thefe  men  Henry 
moft  honourably  adorned  with  offices  built  for 
regular  canons;  but  Harold,  with  the  kindeft 
thought,  increafed  their  incomes.  For  by  thefe 
men  the  Lord's  flock,  which  ferved  the  Lord  there 
in  holinefs  and  righteoufnefs,  is  fupported ;  by 
them  day  by  day  innumerable  crowds  of  travellers 
obtain  all  the  benefits  of  humanity ;  at  fheir  hands 
the  traveller  and  the  hungry  man  receive  food  and 
provisions ;  from  them  the  fick  man  receives 
attention,  and  he  who  is  cold  a  covering,  and 
the  ftranger  and  foreigner  a  roof  to  cover  him — in 
a  word,  everyone  who  is  in  need  obtains  at  the 
hands  of  thefe  men  afliftance  fuitable  to  his 
neceflities. 


CHAP.  IV. — How  it  was  divinely  ordained 
that  this  man  Jhould  be  raifed  to  the  pojition  of 
King,  and,  after  having  defeated  his  enemies,  Jhould 
in  his  turn  be  conquered  by  other  enemies,  anddepofed 
from  his  kingdom ;  and  concerning  a  very  pious 
anchorite,  who  had  been  ajervant  of  Harold,  after 
he  became  a  hermit  himjelf. 

IHO  knows  how  the  bones  of  a  man 
are  framed  in  the  womb  of  her  who 
is  with  child  ?  And  who  has  learnt, 
or  who  can  learn,  what  is  beft  for 
a  man  in  his  lifetime  ?  One  man  generally  rules 
another  to  his  hurt.  Sometimes  a  man  is  fubdued 
and  fubjected  by  one  man  to  another  for  his  good. 
Thus  Chanaan  is  in  bondage  to  his  brother  as  a 
fervant  of  fervants;  thus  the  hands  of  Jofeph, 
given  over  to  bondage  by  his  brothers'  jealoufy, 
did  fervice  in  Chophmos ;  thus,  too,  our  Harold, 
to  return  to  our  fubject,  is  fuddenly  raifed,  as  it 
were,  on  the  wind,  and  is  in  a  moment  violently 
thrown  down.  He  is  raifed  to  be  King  by  the 
acclamation  of  the  kingdom ;  he  returns  a  victor 


The  Life  of  King  Harold.  129 

from  the  battle  in  triumph,  having  flain  the 
barbarians  who  had  attacked  him.  He  fears  not 
to  hear  that  his  late  enemy  has  come  upon  him, 
but  jeers  at  him ;  he  runs  to  attack  his  deftroyer, 
as  though  he  would  at  one  blow  deftroy  him. 
He  joins  battle,  and  falls;  he  attacks,  and  is  cut 
down — he  is  indeed  cut  down  and  fallen,  but  is 
it  to  his  deftruction  or  his  folly  ?  Will  that  hand 
of  the  crucified  King,  from  which  came  forth  a 
writhing  ferpent,  fuftain  him  ?  That  hand,  indeed, 
permitting  it,  the  enemy's  fpear  pierced  his  bones 
and  nearly  every  limb,  and  grievoufly  wounded 
him. 

All  thefe  things  happened  to  Harold  by  the 
direction  and  wonderful  difpenfation  of  that  fame 
hand,  in  order  that  in  the  womb  of  the  pregnant 
Church  the  bones  of  a  man  fore-ordained  before 
fecular  times,  and  deftined  by  God  to  be  born,  and 
by  all  thefe  means  to  pleafe  God  perfectly,  might 
be  fafhioned.  For  conceived  through  piety  ac- 
cording to  the  inward  man,  he  grew  and  was 
increafed  towards  God  in  thefe  exercifes,  and  was 
formed  and  ftrengthened  fo  that  at  length,  like 
Jacob,  when  Rachel  departed  on  account  of  pain 
in  parturition,  he  obtained  a  Benjamin  for  a 
Benoni.  For  he  who  to  his  mother  feemed  a 
fon,  forfooth,  of  angelic  pain  and  death,  by  God 
his  father,  who  had  ordained  that  by  this  event  a 
people  haughty  in  mind,  rough  in  ill-doings,  and 
cruel  in  all  kinds  of  treachery,  mould  be  fup- 
planted,  he  was  made  by  a  wonderful  transforma- 
tion the  fon  of  his  right  hand.  But  as  it  was 

K 


130  ¥he  Life  of  King  Harold. 

noifed  abroad  by  common  converfation  how 
Harold  had  fucceeded  to  the  earthly  kingdom  of 
the  moft  blefled  Edv/ard  (himfelf  tranflated  to  a 
heavenly  kingdom),  and  how  he  had  triumphed 
over  the  Norwegians  with  Edward's  help,  and  how 
bravely  and  with  twhat  impulfe  and  unprepared- 
nefs,  from  an  exceflive  fteadfaftnefs  of  purpofe, 
he  went  againft  the  Normans  who  were  attacking 
him,  and  how,  with  his  comrades  flain,  he  fell  on 
the  enemy  (ingle-handed,  we,  God  helping  us,  will 
write  in  our  account  of  thofe  things  which  happened 
by  the  divine  agency  through  him  and  concerning 
him,  after  the  facts  narrated  above,  which  we  know 
have  efcaped  the  notice  of  moft  chroniclers. 

Some  of  thefe  things  we  heard  from  a  cer- 
tain hermit  of  venerable  life,  Sebricht  by  name, 
who,  while  he  lived,  was  a  fervant  for  many 
years  to  the  holy  man;  and  others  from  equally 
truftworthy  authorities,  who  have  related  thefe 
fads  to  us  with  a  certainty  which  has  proved  them 
to  be  true.  And  further,  thofe  things  which 
happened  after  his  death  through  power  from 
heaven,  and  which  will  be  written  on  this  page, 
have  been  written  by  thofe  who  were  prefent  when 
they  happened,  and  have  been  handed  down  to  us. 
But  the  above-mentioned  man  of  God,  once 
Harold's  moft  devoted  fervant  and  follower,  when 
he  departed  from  this  world,  and  it  was  clearly 
mown  by  his  miracles  that  he  had  gone  to  heaven, 
emulated  his  example  in  doing  good  moft  fervently, 
defiring  to  arrive  at  fuch  a  point  of  holinefs  as  he 
had  reached,  and  being  zealous  to  work  in  as 


The  Life  of  King  Harold.  131 

fimilar  a  way  as  he  had  walked.  Therefore, 
becaufe  he  knew  Harold  had  done  To,  he  under- 
takes the  toil  of  a  pilgrimage,  and  becomes  a 
voluntary  exile  from  his  native  foil,  that  he  might 
be  worthy  to  become  a  holy  man  and  a  fervant  of 
God.  With  naked  feet  he  leaves  the  borders  of 
the  city  of  Chefter,  where  he  left  the  treafure 
which  he  had  preferved  there  for  fo  many  years, 
taking  only  a  portion  for  the  crown  of  his  heavenly 
King,  but  leaving  the  reft  dug  up  upon  the  ground; 
and  thus  ftripped  of  all  worldly  defire  he  goes  forth 
on  his  pilgrimage. 

Thus  bare  and  unencumbered,  intending  to 
approach  the  Lord's  Crofs  on  the  fpot  where 
that  Crofs  was  fafhioned  for  the  Lord's  body,  to 
vifit  His  glorious  fepulchre,  and  to  adore  the  fpot 
where  His  feet  refted,  he  at  length  departs  from 
England;  and,  hoping  to  bedew  with  his  tears 
the  refting-places  of  other  holy  men  as  Harold 
had  done,  to  liften  to  ftrange  languages  which 
he  knew  not,  and  to  undergo  with  joy  no  fmall 
tribulation  for  Chrift's  fake,  he  enters  the  country 
of  ftrangers.  At  length,  having  accomplimed  his 
vow,  after  many  wanderings  which  there  is  here 
no  fpace  to  mention,  he  returns  to  his  native 
country  as  Harold  had  done.  And  on  his  return 
he  betook  himfelf  to  a  town  in  the  Oxford  diftricl: 
called  Stanton,  and,  confining  himfelf  there,  led  a 
feverer  life  till  the  time  of  his  death  than  thofe 
who  are  confined  and  imprifoned  for  their  crimes. 
Here,  becoming  an  object  of  veneration  and 
affection  to  all  religious  people,  he  was  wont  to  be 


132  The  Life  of  King  Harold. 

fought  out  and  vifited  by  many  for  the  fake  of  a 
mutual  edification. 

For  he  had  become  well  known  as  a  man  moft 
devout,  felf-contained,  affable  to  all,  benevolent  to 
many,  well-wiming  to  all.  By  thefe  means  and  in 
this  way  there  arofe  a  goodly  odour  of  Chrift,  and 
as  all  were  borne  along  in  the  odour  of  his  holy 
deeds,  I  alfo,  an  infignificant  perfon,  as  it  were, 
among  greater  ones,  was  carried  along  with  the 
reft  and  became  clofely  bound  to  him  by  a  chain 
of  love.  But  I,  when  ftill  of  a  tender  age,  and 
young  in  the  profeflion  of  religion,  had  vifited 
him  often  through  older  meflengers,  but  fometimes 
in  my  own  perfon,  and  was  at  laft  admitted  to  the 
inmoft  fanctities  of  a  familiar  friendfhip.  At 
length,  when  I  was  older,  I  advanced  fo  far  that 
he  would  fcarcely  hide  any  of  his  fecrets  from  me 
which  feemed  ufeful  for  my  inftruction  as  I  talked 
with  him  on  the  ftate  of  the  inner  man.  And  he, 
though  he  was  country-bred,  and  ignorant  of  any 
language  but  Englim,  he  yet  held  a  wonderful 
and  admirable  opinion  concerning  religion,  and 
was  clever  in  exprefling  himfelf  in  his  own  idiom ; 
as  he  ufed  to  fay  concerning  myfelf :  "  Let  me  fay 
what  I  think — I  believe  that  the  fum-total  of  my 
falvation  confifts  in  patience  and  hope."  He 
would  add  how  many  things  the  Lord  had  mown 
him  in  the  fhape  of  many  and  great  tribulations, 
and  how  mercifully  he  had,  by  converting  him, 
given  him  new  life,  and  how  powerfully  he  had 
led  him  from  the  depths  of  earth.  He  would 
mention,  too,  what  fufferings  he  had  undergone  in 


The  Life  of  King  Harold.  1 3  3 

the  body,  and  in  mind,  enumerating  and  diftin- 
guifhing  the  weaknefs  and  various  affections  of 
both — the  wicked  aflaults  of  devils,  and  the  no 
lefs  bitter  infults  of  men ;  and  he  would  add:  "In 
all  thefe  trials  which  came  upon  me,  an  all  but 
fhipwrecked  wretch,  my  only  hope  was  in  the 
crucified  One,  my  anchor ;  and  leaning  firmly  on 
this  I  faw,  after  a  time,  all  my  troubles,  which  I 
had  but  juft  before  deemed  more  intolerable  than 
death  itfelf,  pafs  away,  as  it  were,  into  foam  and 
ames.  I  have  indeed  borne,"  faid  he,  "  fuch  and  fo 
great  afflictions  of  the  flefh  (to  flee  from  which  I 
have  confined  my  miferable  body  like  fome  un- 
tameable  beaft  in  the  narrownefs  of  this  prifon) 
that  an  ignorant  man  would  fcarcely  believe  could 
be  fuftained  by  any  body,  though  it  were  made  of 
iron  or  ftone." 

Thefe  things  he  ufed  to  relate,  not  boafting  of 
himfelf  or  of  his  labours  for  Chrift,  but  he  thought, 
like  fome  veteran  telling  the  familiar  experiences 
of  his  labours,  that  I,  trembling  on  the  brink  of 
the  fame  untried  ftruggles  of  my  fpiritual  appren- 
ticefhip  might  be  animated  and  ftrengthened  by 
their  recital.  Of  fuch  things  he  would  fpeakwith 
much  feeling,  not  deploring  the  hardfhip  of  his 
fufferings,  but  giving  forth  with  a  wondrous 
fweetnefs  a  memory  of  that  confolation  and 
fpiritual  grace  which  he  had  found  to  be  the  alle- 
viation of  his  trials. 

Thefe  matters  concerning  the  man's  life  and 
manners  we  thought  it  not  out  of  place  to  infert 
into  thefe  pages,  in  order  that  from  the  piety  of  the 


134  T/ie  Life  of  King  Harold. 

pupil  it  may  the  more  plainly  be  mown  on  what  a 
pinnacle  of  perfection  the  life  and  converfation  of 
the  teacher  mines  forth.  He,  indeed,  making 
mention  of  Harold,  would  call  him  his  matter, 
rejoicing  that  he  had  in  heaven  an  advocate  whom, 
when  on  earth,  he  had  as  a  preceptor.  This,  then, 
is  the  man  by  whom,  as  has  been  faid  above,  as 
well  as  by  others  who  knew  the  man  of  God,  and 
how  his  pofition  of  life  was  ordered  and  changed 
according  to  place  and  time,  thefe  things  have 
been  arranged  and  made  known.  And  of  thefe 
fome  were  ignorant  that  Harold  was  once,  when 
he  lived,  a  crowned  king,  but  were  witneffes  of 
his  converfation  and  knew  well  in  what  places  he 
lived  from  the  time  when  he  fpent  his  life  in 
folitude  in  England.  For  he,  dreading  from  his 
heart  the  glory  of  the  world,  of  which  he  had  ex- 
perienced fuch  ignoble  and  unhappy  refults,  when 
he  refolved  to  live  in  his  own  country,  took  a  new 
name,  and  changed  from  time  to  time  the  place 
of  his  dwelling,  left  by  fome  chance  it  mould  be 
betrayed  to  anyone.  But  we  will  difcourfe  of 
thefe  things  in  their  order  below.  Let  us  now 
from  this  exceflive  digreflion  proceed  without 
more  delay  to  the  narration  of  what  we  have 
already  begun. 


CHAP.  V. — How  a  certain  Saracen  woman 
found  him  half  dead  amongft  his  ajfailants, 
brought  him  to  Winchefter^  and  healed  him  as 
he  lay  there  concealed  for  two  years ;  and  how 
he  fought  out  the  Saxons  and  Danes  to  collebl  allies 
againft  the  Normans,  but  was  unfuccejsful. 

[HEN,  then,  the  Englifh  army  was 
beaten  and  overcome  at  the  firft 
attack  of  the  Normans,  King  Harold, 
pierced  with  numerous  blows,  is 
thrown  to  the  ground  amongft  the  dead  ;  yet  his 
wounds,  many  and  deathly  though  they  were, 
could  not  altogether  deprive  of  life  him  whom  the 
goodnefs  of  the  Saviour  had  moft  happily  ordained 
to  reftore  to  life  and  victory.  Thus,  as  the 
enemy's  hoft  departed  from  the  fcene  of  the 
(laughter,  he,  who  the  day  before  was  fo  powerful, 
is  found  ftunned  and  fcarcely  breathing  by  fome 
women  whom  pity  and  a  defire  to  bind  up  the 
wounds  of  the  maimed  had  drawn  thither.  They 
act  the  part  of  Samaritans  by  him,  and  binding  up 
his  wounds,  they  carry  him  to  a  neighbouring  hut. 


136          T/ie  Life  of  King  Harold. 

From  thence,  as  is  reported,  he  is  borne  by  two 
common  men,  franklins  or  hinds,  unrecognifed  and 
cunningly  hidden,  to  the  city  of  Winchefter. 
Here,  preferving  the  fecret  of  his  hiding-place,  in 
a  certain  cellar,  for  two  years,  he  was  cured  by  a 
certain  woman,  a  Saracen,  very  fkilled  in  the  art 
of  furgery,  and  with  the  co-operation  of  the 
medicine  of  the  Moft  High,  was  reftored  to  perfect 
health.  On  regaining  his  ftrength  thus,  he 
thought  he  would  prove  by  great  deeds  the 
courage  of  his  royal  fpirit  which  his  foul  had  not 
loft  in  the  overthrow  of  his  body.  Already  had 
the  nobles  of  his  kingdom,  as  well  as  the  people, 
bowed  their  necks  to  the  yoke  of  the  conqueror ; 
already  had  nearly  all  his  chiefs  either  perifhed  or 
been  driven  from  the  country,  leaving  their 
anceftral  honours  to  be  divided  and  pofleffed  by 
ftrangers. 

Harold,  therefore,  beholding  the  deftruction  of 
his  own  people  and  the  fuccefs  of  the  enemy, 
groaned  in  fpirit,  and  forrowing  more  for  his 
country's  troubles  than  his  own,  refolved  that  he 
would  perifh  with  his  people  or  procure  affi fiance 
for  them.  He  crofled  over,  therefore,  to  Germany, 
the  home  of  his  race,  with  the  intention  of  pro- 
ceeding to  Saxony ;  but  grieves  to  find  that  already 
the  miferable  overthrow  of  his  nation  is  common 
talk  in  all  quarters.  He  earneftly  begs  his  kinsfolk 
to  lend  their  afliftance  to  one  of  their  own  ftock  ; 
he  declares  that  the  misfortune  of  fo  fudden  a 
difafter  was  not  to  be  attributed  to  the  ftrength  or 
valour  of  the  enemy,  nor  to  the  cowardice  of  the 


The  Life  of  King  Harold.  137 

< 

citizens,  nor,  indeed,  to  his  own  timidity  or  help- 
Jeflhefs;  but  that  their  danger  lay  in  the  very 
fact  of  their  bravery,  which,  confcious  as  they  were 
of  their  prowefs  and  victories,  had  Jed  them  to 
oppofe  fuch  a  multitude  of  the  enemy  with  too 
fmall  a  force  of  foldiers.  "  For,"  faid  he,  "  accuf- 
tomed  as  I  am  to  victory,  and  unacquainted  with 
defeat,  I  mould  have  thought  myfelf  beaten  if  I 
had  been  but  a  little  more  tardy  in  gaining  a  frefh 
victory  over  the  enemy.  For  when,  by  Divine 
grace,  the  Norwegians  and  their  King,  who  had 
overrun  our  territory  from  the  north,  were  {lain 
by  us,  and  our  armies  and  generals  had  been  dif- 
mifled  to  their  own  homes,  fuddenly  the  Normans 
came  upon  us  from  the  fouth.  And  I,  meeting 
them  haftily  with  a  fmall  force,  not  inferior  in 
courage  or  fpirit,  but  only  in  numbers,  at  length 
fell ;  but  though  conquered,  I  did  not  yield.  No 
uncertain  victory,  then,  mall  we  gain  immediately 
over  fuch  as  thefe,  whom  accident,  and  not  bravery, 
has  on  this  occafion  mown  to  be  our  fuperiors. 
And  to  the  attainment  of  this  end,  the  enemy's 
infolence,  and  the  manner  of  their  unexpected 
attack,  will  prove  the  devotion  of  my  people,  and 
give  confolation  to  our  enraged  army." 

With  thefe  and  fimilar  arguments  he  im- 
portunes the  Saxons,  as  well  as  the  Danes  whom 
he  vifited  with  an  equal  anxiety,  to  fecure  their 
help  in  driving  out  the  invaders  from  his  kingdom. 
But  when  he  faw  that  their  interefts  were  directed 
into  other  channels,  he  was  at  firft  difturbed  by, 
and  gave  himfelf  up  to,  the  agitations  of  a  great 


138  The  Life  of  King  Harold. 

anxiety.  For  he  who  was  now  King  of  the 
Englim,  as  well  .as  Duke  of  the  Normans,  in  his 
forefight  for  his  own  fecurity  had  been  thoughtful 
and  prudent  enough  to  anticipate  Harold  by 
haftening  to  ally  himfelf,  by  means  of  an  em- 
bafly,  in  friendfhip  with  the  King  and  nation  of 
the  Danes,  as  well  as  with  the  neighbouring 
countries,  and  to  conciliate  their  favour. 


CHAP.  VI. — How  at  length,  coming  to  himfelf, 
he  perceived  that  God  was  opposing  him  in  his 
worldly  path ;  wherefore,  conforming  himfelf  to 
the  Crofs  of  Chrift  that  he  might  the  better 
triumph  over  the  old  enemy,  he  rejoices  that  he 
has  Juffered  defeat  at  the  hands  of  men. 

|OW  Harold,  coming  at  length  to  him- 
felf, and  returning,  as  it  were,  from 
his  fantaftic  dream,  is  completely 
changed  in  his  heart.  He  perceives, 
though  late,  that  it  was  God  who  was  oppofing 
him  in  the  way  in  which  he  was  fo  fruitleflly 
walking,  and  that  it  was  His  angel's  fword  which 
had  been  borne  againft  him  and  his  obftinate 
efforts ;  and  the  eyes  of  his  underftanding  being 
opened,  he  fees  that  he  muft  choofe  another  kind 
of  warfare,  and  that  other  kinds  of  defences  would 
be  required.  For  the  crucified  King  had  looked 
upon  the  toils  and  long-fufferings  of  the  dethroned 
King  with  a  regard  already  favourable  to  him, 
and  would  not  further  fuffer  the  fpecial  devotee 
of  His  banner  to  be  engulphed  in  the  depths,  or 


1 40  The  Life  of  King  Harold. 

be  overwhelmed  in  the  maze  of  fo  great  an  afflic- 
tion. He  had  beheld  him  fallen  in  fin  and  from 
his  high  dignity ;  and  when  He  beholds,  ruin 
ceafes  and  the  fallen  arife.  He  had  beheld,  in 
fhort,  that  He  might  warn  away  his  fin's  fault 
with  tears ;  yet  He  had  not  deprived  him  of  the 
hope  and  defire  of  ruling,  but  had  changed  the 
nature  of  his  defire. 

He  begins,  then,  to  fee  his  errors,  and  to  lament 
the  faults  of  his  fins  and  wrong-doings  in  the 
fight  of  Him  who  fees  all  things :  he  begins  to 
find  that  the  path  to  a  more  blefled  kingdom  is 
far  eafier,  and  to  have  a  foretafte  of  his  oppor- 
tunity. He  is  fixed  in  his  mind  to  become  an 
imitator  of  the  Crofs  which  he  had  loved,  to  bear 
his  crofs  daily,  to  come  after  the  crucified  One, 
and  to  follow  Him.  Nor  does  it  efcape  his  notice 
that,  in  order  to  become  fit  for  thefe  things,  he 
mufl  firft  deny  himfelf.  As  much  as  he  can,  then, 
he  propofes  to  take  Him  for  an  example  and  a 
helper,  who,  though  He  was  in  the  nature  of 
God,  (tripped  Himfelf  of  His  divinity,  and  took 
the  form  of  a  fervant.  He  now  fees  how  the 
Lord  of  the  world,  when  He  was  in  the  world, 
defpifed  a  worldly  kingdom;  and,  when  they 
fought  to  make  Him  a  King,  fled,  and  preferred 
the  retirement  of  a  folitary  life  to  a  throng  of 
followers.  He  remembers  that  all  pov/er  was 
given  to  Him  in  heaven  and  earth  by  the  humilia- 
tion of  a  bitter  paflion  and  a  cruel  death.  He 
forefees  that  this  muft  eventually  be  undergone  by 
all  flem.  He  remembers  that  all  mankind  muft  re- 


The  Life  of  King  Harold.  141 

ceive  from  Him  an  eternal  kingdom  or  an  eternal 
punifhment.  He  knows  that  if  he  were  to  pro- 
pofe  to  make  war  againft  Him,  and  were  to  go 
againft  Him  with  ten  thoufand,  that  He  would 
come  to  meet  him  with  twenty  thoufand,  whofe 
unexpected  coming  and  whofe  extraordinary  pre- 
parations fometimes  exterminate  and  deftroy  him 
whom  He  affails  fecretly  and  powerfully  when 
He  is  lead  expected,  and  he  who  is  unprepared 
for  Him. 

Putting  on  one  fide,  then,  his  vain  defire  of  a 
temporal  kingdom,  and  cafting  off  the  fatal  purpofe 
of  an  earthly  ftrife,  he  propofes  to  fend  an  embaffy 
to  that  King  who  is  ftill  far  off,  impelling  him 
to  inquire  from  Him  what  are  the  terms  of  a 
true  peace.  And  fearing  that  His  anger  will  be 
increafed  by  his  offences,  and  left,  perchance,  his 
embaffy  alone  may  not  be  fufficient  to  propitiate 
Him,  he  refolves  to  feek  out  and  entreat  others, 
fitting  and  fuited  to  the  purpofe,  with  all  the 
prayers  he  can,  to  help  him  and  interpofe  for  him 
with  the  angry  King,  whofe  favour  and  glory 
alone  he  thought  worthy  of  foliciting.  Thus  the 
outward  appearance  and  inward  difpofition  of 
Harold  are  both  fuddenly  changed.  The  hand 
which  he  was  wont  to  arm,  he  fupports  with  a 
fpear  fhortened  into  a  ftaff.  Inftead  of  a  fhield,  a 
wallet  hangs  from  his  neck.  His  head,  which  he 
was  wont  to  equip  with  a  helmet,  and  adorn  with 
a  diadem,  is  fhaded  with  a  head-drefs.  His  feet 
and  legs,  in  the  place  of  fandals  and  greaves,  are 
either  altogether  bare,  or  encafed  in  ftockings. 


142  The  Life  of  King  Harold. 

But  let  me  relate  the  reft  in  a  few  words :  all  the 
armour  of  the  warrior,  the  whole  adornment  of 
this  mighty  man,  is  either  left  off  altogether,  or 
elfe  worn  for  the  humiliation  and  punimment  of 
the  penitent.  Not  only  is  the  breaftplate  not 
thrown  off  from  his  moulders,  arms,  loins,  and  fide, 
but  it  is  brought  clofer  to  his  body ;  for  the  inner 
garments  being  taken  off  and  thrown  afide,  the 
roughnefs  of  the  metal  is  next  to  the  bare  flefh. 
Thus  when  awake,  he  walks,  not  indeed  armed  fo 
much  as  imprifoned  in  armour.  Thus  when  he 
fleeps,  a  bed1  does  not  receive  him,  but  he  is  em- 
bedded in  a  cuirafs.  The  change  in  the  outer 
appearance  which  he  afTumed  was  wonderful. 
Pleafant  indeed  was  this  great  alteration  in  fuch  a 
man,  both  to  the  angels  and  all  the  faints ;  but  far 
more  pleafing  was  the  change  wrought  in  the  inner 
man  by  God  the  Judge,  who  created  and  formed 
in  him  light  inftead  of  darknefs,  and  turned  in  a 
miraculous  manner  the  man's  whole  nature. 

In  truth,  I  fay,  the  change  was  not  brought 
about  by  the  hand  of  man,  but  by  the  right 
hand  of  the  Moft  High,  at  whofe  word  a  cruel 
and  favage  nature  foftens  into  mildnefs  and  gentle- 
nefs,  exaltation  becomes  humility ;  but  who  can 
tell  of  all  the  benefits  of  fo  blefied  a  change? 
That  I  may  condenfe  in  a  few  words  an  endlefs 
matter :  by  this  change,  luft  of  the  flefh  and  the 
world  was  transformed  into  a  contempt  and  hatred 
of  fuch  things,  and  yielded  to  a  defire  and  love  for 
heavenly  things. 

1  A  play  on  the  words  "  thorus "  and  "  thorax." 


The  Life  of  King  Harold.  143 

Thus,  I  repeat,  by  the  help  of  the  Mod  High, 
the  King  is  transformed  into  the  foldier,  and  the 
foldier  of  Chrift  indeed,  the  kingdom  of  the  world 
being  now  more  defpifed  than  it  was  before  defired. 
The  King  is  transformed  into  the  foldier  ;  the 
King  becomes  a  foldier  that  fo  the  foldier  may 
become  a  king,  and  that  he  who  is  both  king  and 
foldier  may  be  transformed  into  a  king.  The 
foldier  begins  to  act  a  foldier's  part  on  the  fide  of 
Him  for  whom  to  fight  is  to  be  a  king  ;  to  reign 
indeed  in  the  prefent,  and  to  reign  with  Him  here- 
after. For  that  reigning  with  Him  is  far  better 
than  this  preient  reigning,  for  it  is  a  far  fublimer 
and  greater  thing  than  reigning  in  the  world  and 
over  a  worldly  kingdom.  By  becoming  a  foldier, 
indeed,  he  reigns,  and  by  reigning  he  beomes  a 
foldier,  until  the  foldier  of  Chrift  changes  all 
mutable  things  into  things  that  endure,  and  death 
be  fwallowed  up  in  victory,  and  battle  be  turned 
into  a  trophy.  Then  mall  the  King  receive  his 
kingdom,  the  foldier  mail  become  a  conqueror: 
the  anxious  man  mail  feel  fecure,  and  he  that  is 
mortal  (hall  live  for  ever.  Meanwhile  the  King 
and  foldier  thus  changed,  a  new  kingdom  and  a 
new  warfare  are  given  to  Harold,  the  whole 
nature  of  his  foul  and  body  throughout  every 
fenfe  and  limb  blooms  afrefh  and  to  new  ufes  in 
the  world.  In  hunger  and  thirft,  in  cold  and 
nakednefs,  in  prayers,  in  watchings,  in  infults  and 
wrongs;  in  a  word,  in  every  toil  and  hardfhip, 
the  flefh  is  weakened,  the  fpirit  ftrengthened,  the 
foul  rejoiced.  His  panting  breaft  trembles  with 


1 44  T/ie  Life  of  King  Harold. 

fighs,  which  before  fwelled  with  {laughters  and 
thundered  forth  threatenings.  His  eyes  are  be- 
dewed with  mowers  of  tears,  which  were  wont  to 
flafh  forth  lightnings  on  his  rivals,  at  the  bidding 
of  an  angry  foul.  His  face,  his  brows,  his  neck 
difplayed  no  elation,  pride,  nor  cruelty ;  modefty 
regulates  his  gait ;  piety,  his  mind ;  purity  guides 
his  affections.  Integrity  gives  form  to  his  inward 
and  outward  movements;  fanctity  changes  all  his 
doings  into  her  own  ways.  Harold  appears  now 
to  govern  himfelf  more  happily  than  is  wont,  to 
reign  more  eminently,  to  wage  war  with  greater 
fecurity  and  ufefulnefs.  He  delights  that  he  has 
been  conquered  by  man,  fince  by  conquering  the 
world  and  himfelf  he  has,  though  conquered,  learnt 
how  .to  achieve  a  more  glorious  victory  over  the 
devil. 


CHAP.  VII. — How  he  entered  on  a  long  pilgri- 
mage to  obtain  the  prayers  of  holy  men  ;  and  how, 
before  he  became  a  King,  he  viftted  the  reft  ing-places 
of  the  holy  Apoftles. 

INSTRUCTED  with  an  undion  which 
now  taught  him  concerning  all 
things,  he  feels  that  he  muft  care- 
fully conceal  that  treafure  of  heavenly 
afpiration,  left,  if  published  abroad  thoughtleflly, 
it  might  be  expofed  to  robbery.  For  firftlings  of 
fheep  or  kine  are  not  fhorn  nor  put  to  the  plough, 
and  firft-fruits  were  deemed  unclean. 

Therefore,  inftru&ed  by  fuch  divine  orders  as 
thefe  from  the  Holy  Spirit,  he  leaves  all  his  friends 
who  had  feemed  to  cleave  to  him  up  to  that  time : 
he  deferts  his  kinsfolk  :  he  retires  fecretly  from  all 
who  had  known  him :  he  approaches  peoples 
hitherto  unknown  to  him  :  he  feeks  for  fupporters 
far  and  wide  amongft  thofe  who  are  not  unknown 
to  him,  but  who  were  in  days  gone  by  indeed 
well  known  to  and  loved  by  him,  and  now  more 
clofely  united  in  a  feeling  of  devotion.  This 

L 


146  The  Life  of  King  Harold. 

man,  now  a  noble  man  indeed,  departed  then  to  a 
far-diftant  country  to  vifit  facred  places  in  order 
that  he  might  pay  honour  to  relics  of  the  faints  in 
their  own  homes  and  mrines;  to  obtain  more 
fully  and  perfectly  by  their  interceflion  the  kingdom 
of  God  which  he  already  held  within  his  breaft, 
intending  after  that  to  return  to  his  own  country. 

Before  this  he  had  vifited  the  refting-places  of 
Chrift's  moft  exalted  apoftles,  when  he  had  not  yet 
fucceeded  to  the  throne  of  the  Englim,  by  an 
inftinct  of  devotion  indeed,  but  alfo  with  the  object 
of  bringing  holy  relics  from  their  city  to  his  own, 
rather  than  wormipping  them  in  theirs.  For  he 
had  had  a  very  fervent  defire  to  collect  facred 
relics,  efpecially  from  the  time  he  began  to  build 
and  found  the  church  of  the  Holy  Crofs  at 
Waltham,  as  we  have  narrated  above;  whence  it 
happened  that,  having  obtained  numerous  pledges 
of  the  faints,  he  appears  alfo,  by  payment  of  vows 
and  prayers  and  money,  to  have  carried  off  from 
Rome  on  his  return  to  his  own  country  the 
blefled  bones  of  the  martyrs  Chryfanthus  and 
Daria.  But  the  Romans,  perceiving  at  length  that 
they  were  being  robbed  of  a  great  treafure,  and 
not  thinking  it  right,  follow  the  pious  plunderer 
juft  as  he  is  departing,  or,  indeed,  had  already  de- 
parted three  or  four  days'  journey,  and  ftop  his 
progrefs.  For  a  whole  hoft  of  the  natives  were 
not  inclined  to  allow  a  few  pilgrims  to  refift  them 
by  force  or  break  away  in  flight.  What  more 
mall  be  faid  ?  Harold  is  flopped,  bound,  and  over- 
whelmed with  infults,  and  he  thought  it  hardeft 


The  Life  of  King  Harold.  147 

of  all  that  he  was  compelled  to  give  up  thofe 
pearls  of  pricelefs  value  which  he  had  lawfully 
obtained  from  their  former  poffefTors,  as  they 
indeed  confefled.  Returning  to  his  own  country, 
then,  for  the  violence  of  the  Romans  could  not 
rob  him  of  the  prayers  and  favour  of  the  above- 
mentioned  witnefles  of  Chrift,  and  having  managed 
to  obtain,  in  fpite  of  all,  fome  very  precious  relics 
at  Rome,  he  brought  them  home  to  be  reverently 
preferved  in  the  church  which  has  fo  often  been 
mentioned. 

And  if  anyone  cares  to  know  at  greater  length 
the  watchfulnefs  of  his  devotion  and  care  in 
acquiring  and  preferving  thefe  relics  of  the  faints, 
let  him  read  carefully  the  treatife  above-mentioned 
concerning  the  finding  of  the  Crofs  at  Waltham. 
But  we  ourfelves,  omitting  what  has  been  written 
by  ancient  writers,  will  give  our  pen  a  new  duty, 
and  follow,  as  we  began  to  do,  our  new  pilgrim, 
with  Chrift  for  a  guide.  And  if  we  are  unable  to 
accompany  him  to  every  place  and  on  every  (ingle 
day  as  he  wanders  through  many  countries  of 
Chriftendom  and  fpends  fo  beneficially  his  time ; 
or  if  we  do  not  know  and  cannot  relate  every 
fingle  thing  he  did  or  fuffered  on  his  long  pil- 
grimage, Jet  us  at  all  events,  following  him  as  he 
is  now  already  a  long  way  off  from  our  mores,  go 
and  meet  him  as  he  returns  to  us  with  all  fpeed. 
And  let  us  give  God  higheft  praife  who  was  with 
him  and  guided  him,  and  who  at  no  time  or  place 
deferted  him,  and  let  us  do  honour  to  him  in  the 
Lord,  who  comes,  indeed,  in  the  name  of  the  Lord. 


CHAP.  VIII. — The  admiration  of  the  writer , 
with  a  brief  exclamation  on  the  goodnejs  of  God, 
by  which  it  happens  that  the  fins  even  of  the 
eleR  work  in  them  for  good. 

JEAN  WHILE,    as    Harold    continues 
walking  in  the  name  of  the  Lord, 
his   foul    like    a   bride   feeking   her 
bridegroom,  as  he  wanders  through 
many   places,  and  having   found   him,  holds  him, 
rejoicing  with  his  fpirit   as  it  glories  in  God  his 
Saviour,  I  feem  to    hear    him    finging  with  the 
pfalmift,  "  Turn,  my  foul,  to  thy  reft,  for  the  Lord 
has  mown  favour  to  thee."     But  he,  for  joy  of 
heart  and  admiration   of  the  mighty  ads  of  his 
beneficent  Lord  towards  his  fervant,  joyfully  ex- 
claims: O  abounding  piety  and  wondrous   kind- 
nefs  of  Thy  Spirit !      O  virtue  and  wifclom !     O 
co-eternal  Son  of  an  eternal  Father  !     O  fweet  and 
blefled  Jefus!     O   ineftimable    and    unfearchable 
height  of  Thy  counfels,  truly  no  man  can  turn  the 
thoughts  of  Thy  heart.     O  how  true  were  the 
feelings  of  her  who  faid  to  Thee,  "  If  Thou  haft 


The  Life  of  King  Harold.  149 

decreed  to  fave  us,  we  mall  for  ever  be  delivered." 
How  faithful,  how  worthy  of  acceptation  is  that 
faying,  fo  confidently  uttered  by  Thy  apoftle! 
"  We  know,"  he  fays,  "  that  all  things  work  to- 
gether for  good  to  thofe  that  love  Him."  Blefled 
be  the  holy  name  of  Thy  glory  with  the  co-eternal 
Father  and  co-eval  Spirit,  who,  when  Thou  wert 
angry,  haft  pity,  and  as  the  holy  woman  relates, 
forgiveft  all  the  fins  of  mankind  in  their  tribula- 
tion. And,  indeed,  all  thefe  things  Thou  haft 
mown  to  be  true,  and  countlefs,  according  to  this 
meafure  which  are  everywhere  written  in  facred 
literature  about  Thee  concerning  thofe  things 
which  Thou  doeft  and  fhoweft  to  thofe  that  love 
Thee,  in  this  one  man  who  loved  and  was  loved 
by  Thee.  How  plain  the  argument  to  us,  how 
clear  a  fpectacle  of  gentlenefs  and  fortitude  haft 
Thou  builti  up  in  this  one  man  !  O  Wifdom,  who 
haft  uttered  words  from  the  mouth  of  the  Moft 
High,  taking  in  hand  with  firmnefs  all  things 
from  beginning  to  end,  and  difpofing  them  with 
gentlenefs !  From  thefe  fprings  of  gentlenefs  and 
firmnefs  proceed  thofe  two  rivers  of  grace  and 
feverity  or  mercy  and  ftriclnefs,  watered  by  which 
the  furface  of  the  earth  of  the  faints,  the  tares 
being  uprooted,  brings  forth  its  feed  to  the  fruit 
of  eternal  life. 

With  what  calmnefs  and  favour  didft  Thou  take 
hold  of  this  man,  and,  as  fome  think,  on  account 
of  his  wickednefs ;  yet  didft  thou  not  hurl  him  into 
eternity,  but,  taking  hold  of  him  and  correcting 
him,  broughteft  him  forth  from  his  very  iniquity  to 


150  'The  Life  of  King  Harold. 

be  more  careful  for  himfelf,  more  devoted  to  Thee. 
What  gentlenefs  and  what  firmnefs  didft  Thou 
exercife  with  him,  fnatching  him  fo  powerfully 
from  the  hand  of  death,  and  not  allowing  his  life 
to  be  taken  away  by  javelin  or  fword,  but  reftoring 
and  re-creating  in  him  the  life  of  his  foul,  a  life, 
as  has  been  mown,  deprived  of  its  fin.  Hence,  too, 
his  unrighteoufnefs  was  found  to  abound  to  Thy 
glory,  fince  out  of  the  great  and  manifold  fweet- 
nefs  of  Thy  kindnefs,  where  his  wickednefs 
abounded,  Thy  grace  abounded  more  and  more  in 
him,  in  order  that  in  proportion  as  he  mould  love 
Thee  more,  he  might  receive  a  fuller  pardon  from 
Thee.  That  it  might  appear  plain  that  not  fome 
things  but  all  things  work  together  for  good  to 
him  who  loves  Thee,  and  even  one's  own  great 
fin,  which  indeed  is  always  evil,  worketh  to  fuch 
a  man  to  his  eternal  benefit. 


CHAP.  IX. — How  many  things  are  faid  by 
many  people  about  Harold's  fin;  and  concerning 
the  oak  hard  by  Rouen ,  under  which  he  made  the 
oath,  which  remains,  though  ftripilof  its  bark,  to 
this  day. 

ONCERNING  this  man's  fin,  fince 
many  hiftorians  fay  much  about  it, 
we  alfo  ought  to  fpeak,  and  bring 
forward  for  impartial  confideration 
what  thofe,  who  have  a  defire  to  exaggerate  or 
detract  from  it,  think  on  the  matter.  For  the 
majority  accufe  him  of  having  committed  a  fin  of 
no  common  kind;  but  of  fuch  heinoufnefs,  indeed, 
that  they  are  of  opinion  the  downfall  of  Englifh 
liberty  muft  be  imputed  to  its  enormity.  For  it 
is  aflerted  that  he  took  the  name  of  the  Lord  God 
in  vain,  and  feared  not  to  pollute  it  with  a  falfe 
oath ;  and  they  alfo  add  that  this  act  of  fin  was 
marked  out  by  a  wonderful  miracle  from  heaven. 

For  the  oak,  which  was  once  a  tree  of  great  height 
and  beauty,  as  is  proved  by  thofe  who  behold  it 
to-day,  under  which  Harold  made  the  oath  to  the 
Duke  of  the  Normans,  as  foon  as  he  ufurped  the 


152  The  Life  of  King  Harold. 

kingdom  which  he  had  fworn  to  preferve  for  him, 
and  thus  broke  his  oath,  is  ftated,  wonderful  to 
relate,  to  have  fhed  its  bark,  and  to  have  loft  its 
greennefs  and  its  foliage.  A  fight  well  worth 
feeing,  for  a  tree  which  was  a  little  time  before 
remarkable  for  the  number  and  thicknefs  of  its 
leaves,  fhrivelled  up  from  the  roots,  as  quickly  as 
did  the  gourd  of  Jonah  and  the  olive  of  that  other 
prophet,  and  all  its  branches  became  white.  The 
lafting  nature  of  the  withered  tree,  an  indeftruc- 
tible  oak,  increafes  the  miracle  of  the  blight  falling 
upon  it,  and  this  we  have  frequently,  in  common 
with  many  more,  wondered  at. 

Who,  indeed,  would  not  be  amazed  that  this  oak, 
of  fuch  vaft  magnitude,  not  weakened  by  fmall 
branches  but  everywhere  unbroken,  from  the  loweft 
roots  to  the  topmoft  leaves,  thus  ftripped  of  every 
covering  of  bark,  had  not  already  yielded  to  old  age 
and  courfe  of  time ;  or  wafted  by  decay,  or  beaten 
upon  by  the  violence  of  the  winds,  and  flooded  by 
many  rains,  had  not  grown  rotten  or,  at  leaft,  bent ! 
But  when  we  faw  the  tree  one  hundred  and  forty 
years  after  this  event,  when  it  was  ftill  to  be  feen  thus 
marked,  a  man  of  Rouen  declared  that  the  crime 
of  fo  enormous  a  perjury  had  been  thus  fignalized 
by  Heaven.  The  ill-feted  tree  ftill  ftands  at  a 
mort  diftance  from  the  city  itfelf,  overhanging  a 
pleafant  glade,  which  is  not  far  from  the  bridge 
over  the  Seine  ftretching  towards  the  hermits  of 
Grandmont.  The  man  of  Rouen  is  faid  to  have 
prefumed,  at  the  unufual  omen,  that  London  would 
fir  ft  be  fubdued. 


The  Life  of  King  Harold.  153 

The  whole  of  Neuftria,  in  like  manner,  learned 
to  hope  that  the  vaft  riches  of  the  Englifh  might 
fubferve  the  waftefulnefs  of  her  needy  and  greedy 
miftrefs.  To  this  is  added,  by  thofe  who  inveigh 
againft  Harold,  already  truly  a  conqueror,  the 
overthrow,  as  eafy  as  it  was  cruel,  and  as  rapid  as 
it  was  undeferved,  whereby  he  unexpectedly  loft 
his  kingdom.  Thus,  without  fufpecling  it,  he 
efcaped  deftruction  by  only  juft  preferving  his  life. 


CHAP.  X. — The  excufe  Jome  make  for  Harold, 
whereby,  exonerating  him  from  perjury,  they  ajjert 
that  it  was  with  thefanftion  of  God  and  confent  of 
the  holy  Edward  that  he  became  King ;  and  con- 
cerning the  vijion  of  the  Abbot  Elfin,  in  which 
the  holy  Edward  declared  that  Harold  Jhould  be 
conqueror  over  the  Norwegians. 

N  the  other  hand,  fome  people,  for  the 
fame  reafon  (and  frequently  even 
before  this  many  were  of  this 
opinion,  eftimating  the  act  of  the 
beloved  man  of  God  by  the  marks  of  divine 
favour  which  fhone  around  him),  endeavour  to 
bring  forward  a  reafon  for  the  non-fulfilment  of 
the  oath,  and  that  Harold  was  quite  right  in 
afluming  the  kingly  power.  For  judging  from 
what  happened  after,  if  what  he  had  fworn  had 
been  obferved,  it  would  have  been  beyond  a 
doubt  a  difaftrous  thing  to  the  nation,  as  it  was 
againft  his  own  wifh,  and  difadvantageous  to  the 
fafety  of  his  people.  For  he  made  the  oath  under 
reftraint  of  fear,  which  fell  upon  this  fteadfaft 


The  Life  of  King  Harold.  155 

man,  who  very  rightly  refufed  to  meet  an  im- 
mediate death,  or  a  never-ending  imprifonment. 
And  befides,  there  appeared  no  other  way  out  of 
the  difficulty,  confined  as  he  was  in  a  foreign 
country,  and  in  fuch  powerful  hands;  therefore, 
yielding  to  the  dictates  of  human  frailty,  which 
never  gives  up  life  willingly,  and  to  the  advice  of 
fome  friends  who  were  with  him  at  the  time,  he 
took  the  oath  thus  prefented  to  him,  to  which  both 
human  laws  and  the  divine  canon  are  known  to  have 
condefcended  through  various  neceflities  of  this  life. 
Concerning  the  right  of  extorting  this  oath, 
others  will  difpute  as  they  pleafe.  But  it  was 
lawful  for  him  not  to  fulfil  an  oath  thus  forced 
from  him,  if,  which  none  deny,  the  oath  itfelf 
were  illegal ;  and  by  its  means,  for  he  could 
not  have  done  fo  otherwife,  he  efcaped  from  the 
Normans  who  were  keeping  him  prifoner.  And 
when  he  at  length  was  reftored  to  his  own  people, 
he  told  everyone  openly  what  he  had  fufTered  and 
what  he  had  done.  And  when  they  hear  his 
account  they  are  all  with  one  mind  feized  with 
rage,  reject  an  agreement  made  under  compulfion 
of  an  oath,  and  cry  out  vehemently  that  it  muft 
not  be  obferved.  Heaven  forbid,  fay  they,  that 
we  mould  ferve  the  Normans!  Heaven  forbid 
that  the  liberty  of  our  city  and  of  our  Englifh 
nobility  mould  ever  be  fubfervient  to  the  barbarian 
yoke  of  Norman  pride !  Why  mould  more  be 
faid  ?  All  cry  with  one  voice :  one  opinion  is  in 
every  mind.  Putting  afide,  then,  all  danger  from 
the  oath,  which  was  thought  to  be  of  no  value, 


156  The  Life  of  King  Harold. 

Harold  at  length,  by  the  unanimous  advice  of  all, 
is  raifed  to  the  throne.  But  that  this  had  not 
happened  with  the  divine  Will  had  been  declared 
a  little  time  after  from  heaven.  For  when  the 
Norwegian  King,  failing  with  a  numerous  fleet, 
had  made  an  entry  into  England,  attacking  the 
province  of  York  with  fire  and  fword,  and  had 
begun  to  Jay  wafte  everything  that  came  in  his 
way,  and  when  the  newly-elected  King  was  haften- 
ing  to  meet  him  with  an  army  he  had  collected,  he 
was  fuddenly  feized  with  moft  violent  pain  in  his  leg. 
Fettered  as  he  thus  had  become,  and  in  agony  for 
the  peril  of  his  fubjects  rather  than  at  his  own 
pain,  pafling  nearly  the  whole  night  without  fleep 
in  fighs  and  prayers,  he  begged  for  the  familiar 
afliftance  of  the  Holy  Crofs.  In  the  fame  night 
there  appeared  to  that  fervant  of  the  Lord,  Elfin, 
the  Abbot  of  Ramfey,  King  Edward,  the  holy  and 
watchful  defender  of  his  people,  the  predeceflbr  of 
our  forrowing  and  afflicted  hero,  telling  the  Abbot 
the  misfortune  of  the  King  which  had  happened 
to  his  body  and  fpirit,  mowing  him  befides  the 
King's  thoughts  as  he  lay  upon  his  bed ;  fending 
him,  and  faying  to  him,  "  Rife,  go,  and  tell  your 
King  from  me  the  remedy  for  his  prefent  pain  and 
the  threatened  war,  that,  at  my  interceflion,  God 
has  granted  him  the  victory.  Let  the  revelation 
of  his  heart's  thoughts  be  a  fign  to  him  from 
heaven  that  the  remedy  is  to  be  attended  to,  and 
let  the  argument  of  this  unwonted  revelation  be  a 
certain  omen  of  his  obtaining  the  victory."  So  the 
King,  to  fpeak  briefly,  is  cured  by  divine  favour, 


The  Life  of  King  Harold.  157 

and  is  exhilarated  by  heavenly  meflages.  Attack- 
ing the  enemy  with  confidence  he  eafily  conquers 
them,  for  he  overcame  not  by  his  own  ftrength, 
but  by  the  might  of  Him  who  heals  thofe  that  are 
broken  in  heart,  and  binds  up  their  wounds, 
deftroying  with  the  fword  the  enemies  of  thofe 
that  love  him.  Therefore  we  gather  by  the  per- 
fuafion  of  an  argument  which  is  not  improbable, 
becaufe  he  obtained  the  kingdom  by  the  connivance 
of  his  moft  holy  predecefTor  and  the  ordaining  of 
God,  that,  fortified  as  he  was  by  the  favour  of  the 
faint  and  advifed  by  his  divine  meflage,  God  Him- 
felf  afTenting  thereto,  he  thus  deferved  to  gain  a 
triumphant  victory  over  his  haughty  foe. 


CHAP.  XL — A  wonderful  account  concerning  a 
Holy  Crofs  which  is  alleged  to  have  bowed  its  head 
to  Harold  as  he  was  haftening  to  battle ;  and  cer- 
tain other  very  abounding  miracles  concerning 
this  Crofs,  proved  to  be  undoubtedly  true. 

OT  only  was  his  legal  affumption  of 
the  kingly  power  defended  by  thefe 
events  and  figns,  but  his  favourable 
performance  of  the  fame  is  proved. 
For,  by  a  fign  new  and  quite  unheard-of  in  all 
ages,  the  clemency  of  the  Saviour  deigned  to  fignalize 
His  own  peculiar  fervant  in  a  more  exalted  manner 
for  the  fecond  time,  by  which  act  of  fo  fignal  a 
miracle,  the  favour  and  Jove  of  Heaven  were  dif- 
played  to  the  devoted  King,  and  his  honour  de- 
fended for  ever  againft  the  reproaches  of  defamers. 
The  circumftance  which  happened  was  noifed  about 
everywhere,  as  was  its  due,  and  is  vifible  to  the 
eye  to  the  prefent  day.  As  he  was  returning 
from  the  flaughter  of  his  enemies,  this  moft  valiant 
King,  haftening  to  meet  fome  new  adverfaries  who 
had  attacked  him,  no  prefTure  of  hafte  would  allow 


The  Life  of  King  Harold.          159 

him  to  pafs  by  his  beloved  church.  He  turns 
afide  to  it  in  his  devotion,  enters,  proftrates  him- 
felf,  and  the  innermoft  feelings  of  his  heart  be- 
coming foftened,  he  worfhips  the  Holy  Crofs, 
multiplies  vow  upon  vow  of  thanks  for  the  victory 
he  had  juft  gained,  and  humbly  doubles  his  prayers 
that  he  may  obtain  another  trophy  of  victory,  if 
it  mould  pleafe  God's  High  Majefty.  His  prayers 
being  at  length  finifhed,  and  the  ifTue  of  the  im- 
pending conflict  entrufted  in  his  earneft  devotion 
to  the  faithful  judgment  of  Him  who  orders 
all  things,  as  he  was  on  the  point  of  returning 
with  bent  head  and  {looping  body,  and  faying 
farewell  to  the  Holy  Crofs,  he  bowed  himfelf,  as 
the  cuftom  is,  and  in  refponfe  the  countenance  of 
the  crucified  image  bowed  itfelf. 

This  wonderful  and  aufpicious  action  of  the  Saviour 
gladdened  while  it  terrified  fome  of  thofe  who  flood 
by.  For  what  could  even  be  conceived  more  aufpi- 
cious than  that  the  immortal  King  of  Eternity, 
though  invifible,  mould  be  feen  to  anfwer  the  falute 
of  a  King  of  miferable  mortals,  and  mould  deign  and 
have  the  power  to  incline  His  head  to  him !  How 
terrible  this  was  to  human  weaknefs  to  fee  fuch 
ftrange  things,  that,  contrary  to  all  nature,  a  ftone 
mould  bend ;  and,  what  is  beyond  nature,  that  God 
in  His  own  image  mould  be  feen  to  bend  to  a  human 
being !  And  what  mail  we  fay  of  this,  that,  where 
the  art  of  man  could  not  pierce  even  the  thin 
palm  of  the  divine  image,  the  image  itfelf  was 
feen  to  bend  its  bodily  neck?  The  workman  toils 
and  draws  blood,  and  makes  a  hole  in  the  hand  of 


1 60  The  Life  of  King  Harold. 

ftone.  A  man,  deftined  foon  to  be  a  King  no  longer, 
prays,  and  the  neck  of  ftone  which,  although,  it 
might  by  fome  means  be  pierced  by  man's  hand, 
could  by  no  means  be  bent,  fuddenly  bends  itfelf, 
yet  is  not  broken  ;  bows  itfelf,  but  from  the  com- 
pletenefs  of  the  whole  body  or  the  joined  head, 
not  the  flighteft  crack  is  made.  And  not  only  in 
the  mere  material  was  this  great  miracle  fo  re- 
markable. For  the  image  being  of  ftone  infide, 
and  the  outfide  filver,  a  double  miracle  was  per- 
formed and  difplayed.  It  was  the  image,  forfooth, 
of  Him  of  whom  it  is  written:  "They  have 
fipped  honey  from  the  ftone,  and  oil  from  the 
hardeft  rock."  The  fubftance  indeed  was  of  ftone, 
yea,  of  very  rock,  hardeft  in  quality,  thick  about 
the  moulders,  neck,  and  arms  of  the  image,  and, 
fo  to  fpeak,  corpulent. 

This  image  was  difcovered  by  divine  revelation, 
buried  in  the  earth  on  the  top  of  a  certain  hill ; 
nor  was  it  known  how  or  by  whom  it  was  fafhioned, 
or  depofited  and  concealed  there.  It  was  brought 
by  divine  command  direct  to  the  place  we  have 
fo  often  mentioned,  where  thefe  things  are  faid  to 
have  occurred,  by  oxen,  who  drew  the  cart  on 
which  it  was  laid  about  one  hundred  and  twenty 
miles,  and  they  would  not  allow  it  to  turn  afide  any- 
where from  the  journey  it  had  undertaken.  There 
it  was  covered  with  filver  plates,  and  was  not  joined 
or  fixed  to  the  lofty  crofs.  For  it  allowed  fo  little 
of  man's  workmanfhip  on  it,  that  a  man  could 
not  even  make  the  holes  for  the  nails  to  be  driven 
in.  Nor  was  this  attempted,  but  the  palm  of  the 


The  Life  of  King  Harold.  1 6 1 

right  hand,  as  foon  as  a  little  of  the  furface  had 
been  bored  by  an  iron,  was  found  to  poflefs  a  foft- 
nefs  whence  it  emitted  blood ;  but  it  loft  not  its 
hardnefs,  whereby  it  repelled  the  hardeft  auger. 
The  right  hand  of  the  Lord  gave  this  quality  to  the 
right  hand  of  His  image,  which,  as  the  Pfalmift 
fang,  hath  given  ftrength,  whence  alfo  it  is  a  fitting 
quality  of  this  material  right  hand,  that  being  made 
illuftrious  by  fo  many  figns,  and  glorious  by  fo  many 
prodigies,  it  may  feem  to  declare,  not  fo  much  in 
words  as  in  fact,  "The  right  hand  of  the  Lord 
hath  exalted  me ;  the  right  hand  of  the  Lord  hath 
given  ftrength." 

Now,  we  have  related  all  this  to  the  end  that  the 
manifold  nature  of  the  heavenly  power  might  appear, 
which  was  mown  in  this  bending  of  the  facred  head 
of  the  holy  image ;  for,  as  we  have  faid,  in  the  filver 
as  well  as  the  ftony  fubftance,  this  wonderful  act  of 
heavenly  condefcenfion  and  power  fhone  forth  to 
our  eyes,  which  we  can  ftill  behold  to-day  near 
the  horn  of  the  altar  where  the  occurrence  hap- 
pened. For  the  ftone  did  not  crack,  nor  did  the 
filver  plate  experience  a  cleft,  or  contract  a  wrinkle, 
though  it  was  ftretched  to  an  unwonted  degree 
from  that  part  of  the  neck  through  fuch  a  bending ; 
nor  was  it  feen  to  be  folded  in  the  leaft  propor- 
tion from  the  region  of  the  neck  and  jaw.  But 
there  was  an  alteration,  and  not  a  fmall  one,  from  its 
original  pofition,  for  whereas  the  chin  of  the  image, 
as  we  have  formerly  heard,  ftood  ftraight  out,  we 
fee  it  now  hangs  down  and  fettled  upon  the  breaft, 
by  reafon  of  the  bending  which  we  have  defcribed. 

M 


CHAP.  XII. — Different  interpretations  of  dif- 
ferent men  concerning  the  above-mentioned  figns  of 
the  bowing  Crojs  and  mthe  withered  oak ;  and  how 
Harold,  by  judging  .himjelf^  favourably  anticipated 
the  divine  judgment  and  fears  not  man's. 

LTHOUGH  this  wonderful  work  of 
piety  feemed  at  the  time  to  have 
portended  a  happy  and  aufpicious 
omen,  yet  fome  people  afterwards 
faid  that  it  prefaged  an  unlucky  and  difaftrous 
event.  For  when,  a  fhorf  time  after,  the  King 
was  beaten  with  his  army,  many  thought  that  the 
bending  of  the  image  fignified  the  fubjugation  of 
the  Englim  and  the  lamentable  downfall  of  the 
kingdom.  But  to  thofe  who  look  into  the  order 
of  the  occurrences  and  the  fervices  of  the  pious 
King  towards  the  Crofs,  both  before  and  after  the 
event,  the  former  interpretation  of  fo  divine  an 
action  feems  more  probable  and  more  liberal.  For 
God,  who  always  gives  in  excefs  of  the  merits  and 
prayers  of  His  fuppliant,  is  wont  to  Jiften  to  thofe 
who  pray  to  Him  as  foon  as  they  afk  beyond  what 


The  Life  of  King  Harold.  163 

they  afk  and  underftand.  Wherefore  He  turns  a 
deaf  ear  oftentimes  to  what  His  petitioners  wifh, 
but  anfwers  their  prayers  for  their  good  and  fafety ; 
for  it  is  only  His  enemy's  wifhes  that  He  grants 
to  their  own  destruction. 

But  it  is  not  neceflary  to  make  a  long  tale  by 
narrating  how  He  has  anfwered  the  prayers  of  fome 
of  the  elect  as  well  as  finners.  It  is  fufficient  to 
bear  in  mind  that  the  chief  of  reprobates  fought  to 
tempt  that  holy  man  Job,  that  this  was  accepted  now 
and  again,  but  was  anfwered  to  the  augmentation  of 
his  own  condemnation.  Let  it  fuffice  to  call  to 
mind,  on  the  other  hand,  that  He,  the  chief  of  all 
the  elect,  when  the  fting  of  His  fuffering  was  at 
hand,  afked  that  the  cup  might  pafs  from  Him,  but 
obtained  not  the  prayer  which  He  had  made  accord- 
ing to  His  wifhes,  but  fubjected  His  will  to  the 
good  pleafure  of  the  Father,  yea,  and  rendered  it 
completely  in  fubjection.  "  Not  My  will,"  said  He, 
"  but  Thine  be  done."  For  God  in  fuch  a  wim  as 
that,  fpared  not  His  own  Son,  giving  Him  up  for 
us  all,  that  He  might  on  that  account,  when  he 
had  drunk  of  the  brook  in  the  way,  lift  up  His 
head  which  He  bowed  upon  the  Crofs.  The 
ftory  of  the  confummation  was  declared  to  be  the 
overthrow  of  the  enemy  of  mankind.  And  on 
this  declaration  becoming  known,  He  bowed  His 
head  in  peaceful  {lumber,  after  the  long  vigils 
of  an  anxious  conflict ;  and  fweetly  refted  in 
peace  after  the  agony  of  His  bloody  fweat.  But 
thefe  things  unbelievers  have  interpreted  contrari- 
wife.  When  He  achieved  the  victory  over  His 


164  The  Life  of  King  Harold. 

enemies,  defeated  fpite  thought  that  it  had  con- 
quered the  victorious  King.  But  He,  knowing 
what  He  had  done,  bent  His  invincible  head, 
which  in  victory  He  carried  erect,  in  a  fecure  and 
peaceful  fleep.  It  is  now  plain  by  this  diftinguifh- 
ing  fign  the  King  had  mown,  in  bending  His 
head  to  the  fuppliant  King,  that  He  had  granted 
him  a  better  victory  than  the  reft  looked  for  or 
thought.  For,  left  an  erroneous  opinion  mould 
prevail  with  the  conquered  againft  the  conqueror, 
and  left  He  who  was  faid  to  be  the  King  of  the 
Jews  mould  be  thought  to  have  loft  His  kingdom, 
there  was  added  the  governor's  difapproval  of  the 
rafh  opinion  in  letters,  in  the  infcription  placed 
over  His  head,  which  was  already  bent.  For  It 
was  written  there,  "  Jefus  of  Nazareth,  King  of 
the  Jews."  He  remained,  in  truth,  a  king,  for 
the  wicked  multitude  envied  Him  His  kingdom, 
and  killed  Him,  fo  that  He  bowed  His  Head. 
But  He  indeed  bowed  His  head,  afluming  at  the 
fame  time  the  power  of  His  kingdom;  which 
confefling1  that  He  had  received  in  its  fulnefs, 
He  exalted  His  bowed  head  above  the  heavens. 

Let  no  one  think  that  the  royal  name  or  royal 
dignity  (to  whom  fuch  a  mark  was  mown  by  the 
King  of  all  Kings)  was  loft  by  the  King,  either 
becaufe  He  deigned  to  bow  in  his  own  image  or 
becaufe  it  was  not  permitted  the  fame  King 
vifibly  to  triumph  over  his  threatening  enemies  by 
the  fame  means.  But  if  anyone  thinks  that  the 

1  Convefcens,  //'/.  eating  together  with  ;    here  evidently  a 
corrupt  reading,  perhaps  for  confeflus. 


The  Life  of  King  Harold.  1 65 

prefage  of  fuch  an  unexpected  virtue  fignified  the 
extenfion  of  the  kingdom,  whofe  temporal  adminif- 
tration  was  at  firft  conferred  on  him,  and  after- 
wards taken  from  him,  we  do  not  deny  that  the 
downfall  of  Englifli  profperity,  and  the  overthrow 
of  the  liberty  of  the  laity  as  well  as  the  Church, 
which  was  experienced  from  that  time,  was  por- 
tended to  the  inhabitants  of  our  ifland.  But  the 
Holy  Crofs  does  not  fuffer  the  rights  of  its  fervant 
to  be  diminifhed  becaufe  of  its  greater  confederation 
for  him. 

But  the  eternal  and  unchanging  God  offers  and 
promifes  to  His  wormippers  for  their  labours  and 
their  religious  worfhip  not  tranfitory  and  perifhable 
things,  but  rather  ftable,  good,  and  eternal  things. 
Therefore  the  King  granted,  gave,  and  yielded  to 
the  King  what  he  wimed.  And  if  he  could  in  any 
other  or  better  way  have  known  how  to  give  or 
grant  it,  it  would  have  been  the  heavenly  granting 
to  an  earthly,  one,  a  permanent  for  ever  and  ever 
to  a  tranfitory  one.  But  He  took  away  a  fhadowy 
kingdom  from  him  for  whom  He  preferved  a  true 
and  everlafting  one,  that  the  former  might  not  be 
even  a  flight  hindrance  to  his  pafTmg  to  the  latter. 
And  left  the  thoughts  of  men  (whofe  forefight  re- 
garding impending  danger  is  full  of  fear  and  doubt) 
mould  imagine  that  the  good  Lord  purpofed  to 
fuch  an  extent  to  bring  affliction  inftead  of  peace 
on  his  devoted  fervant,  He  refolved  that  the  vaft- 
nefs  of  the  miracle  which  He  had  performed 
fhould  anticipate  the  enormity  of  a  future  offence, 
and  that  we  might  put  a  limit  to  fuch  things  as 


1 66  The  Life  of  King  Harold. 

thefe,  He  deigned  to  beftow  and  confer  the  mani- 
feftation  of  His  clemency  on  His  fervant.  By 
thefe  benefits,  in  fine,  the  exalted  power,  the 
infinite  holinefs,  the  unapproachable  fublimity  of 
the  mercy  and  greatnefs  of  Almighty  God  the 
Father,  Son,  and  Holy  Ghoft,  the  one  and  only 
King  of  Eternity,  difplayed  on  the  King's  diadem  a 
pearl  of  great  brilliancy,  when  he  was  under  a  cloud 
of  perfecution  and  in  a  flough  of  defpondency. 

And  as  for  what  fome  allege  abput  the  oak,  let 
thofe  attend  to  that  who  worfhip  the  beafts  of  the 
foreft  and  trees,  and  who  fear  not  nor  blum  to 
prefer  the  fenfelefs  wood  and  the  brute  beafts  to 
men,  partakers  of  their  own  nature,  made  after  the 
image  of  God,  and  what  is  more  than  this, 
redeemed  by  His  death.  Let  them  take  care 
left  perchance  the  tree  itfelf  foretold  an  omen  for 
him  who  enforced  the  oath  and  his  immediate 
pofterity  rather  than  for  him  who  took  the  oath. 
Let  them  confider  and  decide  whether  it  feemeth 
fitting  to  them  by  whofe  agency  the  bloom  and 
vigour  of  the  fanctity  and  liberty  of  the  ancient 
Church  of  England  wafted  and  vanimed,  that,  when 
the  firft  pulfe  of  the  kingdom  began  to  beat,  a  green 
and  leafy  tree  dried  up,  caft  off  in  a  moment  its 
beauty,  and  difplayed  a  perplexing  nakednefs. 

But  let  it  fuffice  that  we  have  touched  upon 
both  fides  of  thefe  matters  which  are  related 
to  have  happened  by  fome  in  favour  of  King 
Harold,  and  by  others  in  oppofition  to  him,  leaving 
the  fettlement  of  the  queftion  to  the  final  decifion 
of  the  reader,  or  rather  of  the  immortal  God  who 


The  Life  of  King  Harold.  1 67 

knoweth  all  things.  As  far  as  we  have  been  able, 
we  have  tried  by  means  of  what  we  have  related, 
and  which  appeared  to  us  not  irrelevant  to  the 
fubject,  to  remove  the  ftumbling-ftones  from  the 
way,  and  to  make  the  path  plain,  the  actual  fads, 
as  we  truft,  guiding  us. 

It  remains  for  us  now  to  go  and  meet,  with 
what  fpeed  we  may,  our  King  and  patron,  who  is 
returning  to  us  from  his  long  journey,  and  to 
follow  him  to  the  bed  of  our  power  v/ith  the 
devoted  fervice  of  our  trufty  pen,  as  he  returns 
home  firft  to  the  home  of  the  Angles  and  then  of 
the  Angels.  But  he  himfelf,  by  accufmg  and 
judging  himfelf,  ftrove  fo  to  anticipate  the  judg- 
ment of  man  and  of  God  that  it  mattered  very 
little  to  him  to  be  judged  by  thofe  who,  according 
as  they  were  difpofed  towards  him  by  hatred  or 
goodwill,  judge  according  to  their  human  lights, 
generally  wrongly,  and  feldom  rightly. 


CHAP.  XIII. — How,  after  many  years  Jpent 
abroad,  Harold,  returning  to  England  for  the 
purpofe  of  exercijing  his  patience  and  meeknefs, 
caujed  himfelf  to  be  called  CHRISTIAN,  and  lived 
ten  years  in  a  certain  rock  infolitude ;  with  a  Jhort 
inveRive  againft  the  Antichrifts  of  that  time. 


FTER  fpending  many  years  in  the 
holy  labour  of  a  religious  pilgrimage, 
Harold  decided  to  practife  a  new 
method  of  life  upon  his  body,  worn 
out  as  it  was  with  long  toils  and  old  age.  He 
had  learnt,  indeed,  the  countlefs  virtues  and  moft 
holy  lives  of  the  faints  whom  he  had  vifited,  and 
he  now  refolved  to  ftay  his  fteps,  to  make  an  end 
of  his  wanderings,  to  bid  farewell  afrefh  to  the 
activity  of  Martha,  and  to  reft  quiet,  like  Mary, 
in  meditation  on  the  fayings  and  doings  of  holy 
men  which  he  had  heard  and  feen,  that  he  might 
the  more  lavifhly  enrich  his  fpirit,  fo  as  to  be  able 
to  fing  with  the  Pfalmift  in  deed  and  in  truth, 
"That  my  foul  may  be  filled  with  marrow  and 
fatnefs,  and  my  mouth  praifes  Thee  with  joyful 


The  Life  of  King  Harold.  1 69 

lips."  He  had  experienced  and  maintained  in  his 
own  perfon,  and  in  the  fweet  and  gentle  fanctity 
of  the  righteous,  how  gentle  and  pleafant  is  the 
holy  of  holies;  and  he  thinks  that  it  would  be 
beft  for  him  to  reft  in  future,  that  he  may  fee  more 
perfectly,  and  know  in  a  more  blefled  way,  that 
the  Lord  Himfelf  is  God. 

But  left  this  bodily  repofe  (as  is  cuftomary  to 
the  thoughtlefs)  mould  bring  lazinefs  or  torpor 
upon  his  mind,  he  elected  to  reft  and  repofe  in 
that  land,  by  refiding  in  which  he  forefees  that 
he  will  be  able 'to  poffefs  and  difplay  a  greater 
exercife  and  a  more  effective  proof  of  his  patience 
and  goodnefs.  He  knew  that  the  height  of  per- 
fection, which  he  felt  in  his  enlarged  breaft  in  all 
its  fulnefs,  would  ftand  out  moft  clearly  in  that 
faying  which  the  only  begotten  Son  of  the  Moft 
High  deigned  to  utter  and  teach  the  brothers  of 
his  adoption,  "  Pray,"  faid  He,  "  for  them  which 
defpitefully  ufe  you  and  perfecute  you ;  do  good 
to  them  that  hate  you,  that  ye  may  be  the  children 
of  your  Father  which  is  in  heaven,  for  He  maketh 
His  fun  to  rife  on  the  good  and  on  the  evil,  and 
fendeth  rain  on  the  juft  and  on  the  unjuft."  He 
afpired,  therefore,  in  his  heart's  affection  to  the 
merit  and  reward  of  that  true  perfection  to  which 
he  ought  the  rather  to  ftrive,  and  to  remain  in  that 
land  which  contains  as  many  of  his  perfecutors  as 
there  are  dwellers  therein ;  as  many  of  his  haters 
as  there  are  men  therein ;  almoft  as  many  revilers 
as  men  who  fpeak  with  him  and  of  him.  But  he 
does  not  truft  himfelf  to  fo  ferious  a  ftruggle,  nor 


170  The  Life  of  King  Harold. 

commit  himfelf  to  fuch  a  danger  without  due  con- 
fideration ;  for  he  is  well  aware  of  the  ftrength  of 
Him  who  dwelleth  in  him,  and  in  whom  he 
dwells ;  nor  did  he  fear  to  fay  with  the  Apoftle, 
"  Since  ye  feek  a  proof  of  Chrift  fpeaking  in 
me."  With  full  truft,  then,  in  the  knowledge 
that  he  has  fuch  a  gueft  within  him,  he  wimed 
to  be  called  CHRISTIAN  by  name,  that,  being 
already  joined  in  a  union  of  the  Spirit,  he  might 
alfo  be  united  in  the  communion  of  name  to 
Him  who,  he  knew,  was  dwelling  in  him,  fpeak- 
ing in  him,  working  in  him,  and  fuffering  in  him. 
For  he  faid  with  Paul,  in  his  heart  to  himfelf, 
but  to  us  alfo  in  work,  "  I  can  do  all  things 
through  Him  who  ftrengtheneth  me." 

It  is  not  thus  with  the  wicked  man,  nor  with 
thofe  whom  a  treacherous  enemy — an  enemy  who 
overthrows  and  is  overthrown — arms  only  to  deftroy, 
flrengthens  only  to  make  weak.  For  fuch  an  one 
teaches  you  to  place  your  reliance  in  your  own 
flefh,  that  your  heart  may  be  alienated  from  God ; 
that  you  may  be  like  the  tamarifk,  blooming  yet 
barren  ;  and  that  you  may  dwell  now  in  a  land  of 
faltnefs,  which  yields  no  fruit  to  its  cultivators, 
and  afterwards  in  an  uninhabitable  land,  which 
gives  no  reft  to  thofe  who  dwell  therein.  In  this 
land  only  eternal  horror  dwells.  For  who  can  dwell 
with  the  devouring  flame,  or  who  can  abide  with 
everlafting  fires?  But  thefe  laft  prophetic  words 
we  ufe  without  abufe,  knowing  the  difference  of 
thofe  fires:  with  which  the  one  confumes  fmners 
without  deftroying  them  ;  but  the  other,  by  con- 


The  Life  of  King  Harold.  171 

fuming  the  fins,  juftifies  the  finners,  illuminating 
and  kindling  them.  Yet  why  mould  we  fpeak  of 
thefe,  of  whom  we  are  not  concerned  to  fpeak  or 
judge,  who,  indeed,  rob  and  deftroy  the  church — 
aye,  and  churches — outwardly,  but  inwardly  enter 
not  into  nor  inhabit  them — gathering  the  fruit 
and  lopping  the  vineyard  of  the  Lord  of  Hofts ; 
but  now  they  are  cut  down  by  the  hufbandman, 
and,  unlefs  they  grow  wife  in  time,  they  are  to  be 
caft  in  a  moment  into  eternal  fire.  Now  becaufe 
thefe  men  are  become  Antichrifts,  let  us  rather 
leave  them  to  themfelves  and  their  flame  and 
return  to  our  Chriftian.  For  even  now,  as  the 
prophet  witnefleth,  the  flame  devours  the  enemy, 
and  in  obedience  to  the  fentence  of  the  true  vine, 
the  branch  is  afterwards  caft  into  the  fire  and 
burnt. 

But  our  Chriftian,  new  in  name  but  old  in 
profeflion,  fecure  in  Chrift  who  dwelleth  in  him — 
already  the  victor  of  the  world  and  of  that  Prince 
who  is  in  the  world — by  a  new  warfare  and  a  new 
art  of  fighting  begins  to  conquer  his  conquerors. 
His  King,  with  whom  he  had  waged  war  already 
a  long  time  in  the  hope  of  regaining  his  loft 
kingdom,  had  beftowed  on  him  the  flame  of 
affection,  with  which,  fanned  by  the  breath  of  this 
Holy  Spirit,  the  hammers  of  affliction  had  forged 
upon  the  anvil  of  fuffering  a  great  panoply  of 
victorious  arms.  With  thefe  he  had  learnt  to 
fight  without  defeat  for  his  loft  kingdom — but  a 
kingdom,  indeed,  in  heaven,  not  on  earth,  know- 
ing that,  when  he  had  obtained  that,  he  could 


172  The  Life  of  King  Harold. 

never  lofe  it  at  the  hands  of  any  enemy.  Led, 
then,  at  length  to  his  former  kingdom — poflefled, 
indeed,  with  great  danger,  but  loft  to  his  great 
gain — ready  to  fight  manfully  with  thofe  weapons 
with  which  he  was  armed  for  a  new  and  incom- 
parably better  kingdom,  he  enters  the  camp 
equipped  with  all  his  armour.  For,  retiring  into 
a  cavern  hard  by  Dover,  he  firft  compofed  his 
mind,  then,  rifing  up  out  of  himfelf,  he  beheld 
the  land  far  above  him,  whofe  King  fometimes  his 
eyes  could  fee  in  all  His  glory,  in  whom  and  with 
whom  he  prefumed  to  have  a  certain  hope  of 
reigning. 

Here,  fulfilling  all  the  commandments,  he 
fpent  ten  years  of  folitary  life,  like  a  foldier  in 
his  recruit  fervice,  and  at  length,  becoming  a 
veteran,  he  ftrove,  by  leading  a  godly  life,  to 
exceed  even  rather  than  fulfil  the  vital  precepts  of 
the  Divine  Law.  For  he  knew  that  that  was  a 
life  of  virtue,  this  a  life  of  holinefs ;  that  a  life  of 
beginning,  this  a  life  of  perfection;  that  alfo  he 
judged  neceflary,  this  glorious — here,  in  fhort,  he 
looked  for  counfel,  there  for  empire,  for  the  fafety 
of  mankind,  and  at  the  fame  time  for  the  glory  of 
a  jealous  and  favourable  God. 

Now  this  place,  where  he  had  thus  determined  to 
fpend  his  life,  was  not  far  diftant  from  the  fpot  where 
he  had  formerly  loft  his  earthly  kingdom  by  nearly 
meeting  his  death,  and  by  this  act  feized  power  from 
the  Kingdom  of  Heaven.  Here,  therefore,  the 
patience  and  gentlenefs  of  the  man  exercifed  and 
wafted  his  ftrength,  where  both  his  own  and  his 


The  Life  of  King  Harold.  173 

people's  paft  misfortunes,  and  the  prefent  pride  of 
his  enemies,  was  brought  to  his  memory  and  fight 
more  frequently,  forafmuch  as  he  was  more  urged 
in  a  more  generous  fpirit  to  repay,  not  evil  for 
evil,  but  the  bounteous  gifts  of  his  holy  inter- 
ceffion. 


CHAP.  XIV.— How  Harold  afterwards  Jpent 
a  long  time  in  various  places  on  the  borders  of  the 
Welfli)  bore  their  repeated  ajjaults  in  patience, 
hiding  his  face  with  a  cloth,  and  changing  his 
name  for  another  left  he  jhould  by  Jome  means  be 
recognifed ;  how  at  length  the  cruelty  of  his  per- 
Jecutors  was  changed  into  veneration  for  him. 

|lVING,  then,  among  the  Welfh,  al- 
though he  had  been  at  one  time  an 
object  of  hatred  to  them,  on  account 
of  what  feemed  at  the  time  a  juft 
defence  of  his  own  race,  he  now  defires,  as 
Chriftian,  to  fuffer  with  Paul  what  he  had,  as 
Harold,  done  with  Saul.  Bidding  farewell,  then, 
to  Kent,  he  proceeds  to  Wales,  and  ftaying  there 
in  various  places  a  long  time,  he  Jived  with 
the  Welfh  and  prayed  for  them,  although  they, 
without  provocation,  ceafed  not  to  afTault  him, 
who  was  now  not  fighting  againft  them,  but  for 
them.  But  as  he  was  going  into  a  land,  as  we 
have  ftated  before,  where  he  was  once  known,  he 
concealed  both  his  features  and  his  name,  wearing 


The  Life  of  King  Harold.  175 

always  in  public  the  veil  of  a  little  piece  of  cloth 
before  his  face,  left,  if  he  were  recognifed  by  any, 
the  offer  of  their  adoration  to  the  merits  of  his 
virtues  might  lead  him  to  become  vain.  If,  then, 
his  name  were  afked,  he  would  fay  that  men  called 
him  Chriftian.  He,  indeed,  difguifed  both  his 
face  and  his  name,  becaufe  his  name  was  known  to 
all,  and  his  face  to  many.  For  he  was  afraid  that  he 
might  be  betrayed  bythefe  indications,  and  he  feared 
left  he  mould  be  greeted  with  applaufe  from  his  own 
friends,  if  perchance  any  furvived,  or  by  ftrangers 
even,  if  he  were  recognifed,  either  at  the  contempla- 
tion of  his  former  dignity  and  prefent  humility,  or 
under  pretence  of  friendship  or  familiarity. 

But  it  was  not  to  be  feared  that,  even  if 
he  were  betrayed  by  his  enemies,  he  would  be 
treated  in  a  hoftile  manner,  leading  fuch  a  life 
and  behaviour  as  he  was  doing,  or  put  into  clofer 
reftraint  than  he  had  put  himfelf.  Yet  it  was 
very  probable,  if  his  fecrets  were  known,  that  he 
might  be  troubled  by  what  was  worfe  than  tortures 
or  imprifonment,  namely,  praife  and  applaufe. 
For  who  would  not  mow  all  the  reverence  and 
honour  he  could  to  fuch  a  man,  when  he  faw  how 
lowly-minded  and  mild — how  kind-hearted  and 
gentle — how  indifferent  to  worldly  things — he  was ; 
and  how,  by  his  own  free-will,  he  had  become  an 
object  of  contempt  to  lovers  of  the  world,  efpe- 
cially  if  it  were  no  fecret  that  in  former  times  he 
had  held  a  confpicuous  pofition  in  the  world,  and 
had  been  rich  and  powerful?  And  this  is  re- 
markable about  his  frugality  and  patience,  that  he 


ij6  The  Life  of  King  Harold. 

did  not  fo  much  bear  wrongs  with  patience,  as 
repay  them  with  kindnefTes ;  and  that  he  did  not 
fo  refrefh  his  faft-decaying  body  with  food,  as  juft 
keep  it  alive.  On  this  matter  we  have  heard 
fully,  from  a  certain  holy  fervant  of  Chrift,  that 
if  he  were  at  any  time  eating  a  lean  and  fmall  fifh, 
he  would  never  eat  but  one  half  of  it,  leaving  the 
other  half  untouched — not  even  turning  it  over, 
but  would  hand  it  juft  as  it  was  to  his  fervant,  or 
to  fome  needy  man,  if  one  were  prefent.  By  thefe 
ftrict  refolutions  this  holy  man,  following  the 
example  of  Him  whofe  Name  he  claimed  to  mare, 
preferred  to  be  defpifed  and  afflicted  for  a  while 
with  Chrift,  and  for  Chrift,  fince  now  he  was 
called  Chriftian  from  Chrift,  rather  than  be  ener- 
vated by  the  favours  and  pleafures  of  the  world ; 
for  which  reafon  he  had  of  his  own  free-will 
expofed  himfelf  to  the  favage  company  of  the 
Welfh,  putting  before  his  mental  vifion  that  Pafchal 
Lamb  who  freely  offered  Himfelf  to  wicked  priefts 
to  be  facrificed  for  us. 

For,  defiring  to  walk  as  Chrift  walked,  this 
Chriftian  haftened  to  follow  wherever  He  went, 
through  the  purity  of  a  worldly  heart,  and  fuffer- 
ing  of  an  afflicted  body,  that  Lamb,  which  per- 
chance he  could  not  follow  in  the  unfoiled  cleannefs 
of  the  flefh.  For  burning  with  a  love  of  fuffering, 
as  if  he  thought  of  too  little  account  all  the  hard- 
fhip  and  failings  he  brought  on  his  own  body, 
himfelf  his  own  torturer,  he  chofe  to  enter  into 
companionfhip  with  a  wild  race,  at  whofe  hands 
he  knew  he  mould  be  fubjected  to  many  afflictions, 


The  Life  of  King  Harold.  1 77 

if  not  indeed  crucifixion  itfelf.  He  differed,  in 
truth,  from  thefe  treacherous,  favage,  and  defpicable 
men,  only  what  he  looked  for  and  expected,  for 
he  was  often  violently  beaten  with  very  cruel 
ftripes  at  the  hands  of  robbers,  from  whom  alfo 
he  fuffered  every  poflible  injury.  They  pilfered 
his  provifions,  and  robbed  him  of  his  clothes ; 
and  to  induce  him  to  bring  forth  money,  of  which 
he  had  none,  they  tortured  him  with  exceffive  and 
exquifite  torments  and  ill-treatment. 

Such,  indeed,  was  the  conduct  of  thefe  men,  or 
rather  wild  beafts,  that  that  faying  of  St.  Gregory 
concerning  the  Longobardi  fuits  their  cafe  exactly : 
"  Whofe  very  compacts  are  punimments,  and  whofe 
favours  are  fwords."  But  the  man  of  God  bore  it 
all  with  a  tranquil  mind,  a  cheerful  countenance,  a 
gentle  voice,  and  a  generous  hand.  Nor  did  his  pious 
habits  ceafe,  though  he  had  to  ftruggle  with  fuch 
impiety,  until  the  evil  of  the  latter  was  overcome 
and  put  to  mame  by  the  goodnefs  of  the  former, 
and  glory  and  honour  was  heaped  upon  the  piety 
which  had  won  the  victory.  For  he  gave  food 
and  drink  to  his  enemies,  as  the  Apoftle  tells  us 
to  do.  He  foftened  the  hearts  of  his  defpoilers  by 
kindneffes — he  made  his  tormentors  gentle  by  his 
wondrous,  unheard-of  meeknefs.  He  heaped,  fo  to 
fpeak,  from  the  furnace  of  a  great  affection,  coals 
of  fire  upon  their  heads,  fo  that  the  hardnefs  of 
their  hearts,  foftened  to  the  marrow,  was  at  length 
melted,  and  they  began  to  worfhip  and  honour 
him  whom  they  had  been  accuftomed  to  mock  and 
fcourge.  The  hand  which  once  raged  with  ftripes, 

N 


178  The  Life  of  King  Harold. 

is  now  conftant  in  kindnefles.  The  tongue,  once 
ufed  to  contumely,  redoubles  its  praifes.  For  the 
virtue  of  his  not  yet  experienced  goodnefs,  after  the 
manner  of  perfumes,  the  more  it  was  handled,  the 
ftronger  fcent  it  had,  and  being  widely  diffufed, 
the  odour  of  his  life  became,  by  its  difperfion,  life 
to  many.  For  the  fweet  fragrance  of  his  holy 
reputation,  gliding  into  their  fenfes,  drove  away 
and  put  to  flight  that  devil's  breath  of  raging 
mift  from  the  hearts  of  thefe  brute  beafts,  though 
human  beings ;  and  you  might  well  think  that  fuch 
an  utterance  as  this  came  from  their  tuneful  hearts, 
rather  than  their  voices:  "In  the  odour  of  Thy 
ointments  we  run,  for  our  fouls  have  loved  Thee." 


CHAP.  XV.— How  Harold,  the  man  of  God, 
avoided  the  obfequious  who  perjecuted  him,  whom 
he  had  approached,  and  long  borne  with  ;  and  how 
a  place  of  reft  was  appointed  for  him  by  a  'voice 
that  fell  from  heaven ;  and  how  he  hinted  in 
ambiguous  words  to  thoje  who  ajked  him  that  he 
was  Harold;  and  how  the  truth  of  the  matter 
will  be  fliown  more  fully  in  the  account  given  by 
his  Juccejfor. 

UT  this  man  of  God,  this  practifer  of 
a  deep  humility,  this  lover  of  quiet- 
nefs,  this  careful  guardian  of  both 
thefe  virtues,  left  he  mould  lofe  or 
deftroy  in  the  leaft  either  of  thefe  good  qualities, 
decides  that  he  muft  fly  from  thofe  whom  he  had 
firft  fought  out  to  perfecute  him,  but  who  now 
were  inclined  to  worfhip  him.  The  virtue  of  his 
bodily  ftrength,  which  would  not  yield  to  labours, 
but  was  become  broken  with  years,  began  to  give 
way  in  him.  Once  you  would  have  thought  that 
his  knees  were  growing  ftrong  rather  than  weak 
by  his  faftings ;  that  his  legs  were  gaining  activity ; 


1 80          The  Life  of  King  Harold. 

that  he  fcarcely  felt  fatigue.  But  now  the  decrepit 
old  man  was  to  experience  that  "  Old  age  brings 
everything."  He  makes  a  prayer  to  the  Lord 
that  he  may  be  mown  a  place,  in  his  declining 
years,  defiring  a  pleafant  vifion  to  his  faint- 
ing heart,  and  begs  that  God  with  His  wonted 
kindnefs  will  grant  him  fuch  a  refting-place,  where 
he  may  pafs  the  remainder  of  his  life  in  the  quiet 
of  a  much-defired  repofe,  and  there  end  his  days 
by  a  happy  death.  And  feeling  that  the  Lord  in 
His  beneficent  fpirit  had  liftened  to  the  pious  defire 
of  His  poor  fuppliant,  he  caufed  himfelf  to  be 
mounted  on  a  poor  beaft,  and,  content  with  his 
ufual  attendant,  ftarts  on  the  journey  which  the 
Lord  would  deign  to  appoint  for  him ;  and  was 
thus  borne  by  feet  that  were  another's  becaufe  his 
own  had  no  ftrength  left  in  them.  Departing, 
then,  ignorant  by  defign,  and  wifely  uninformed  of 
his  journey's  end,  and  led  by  angelic  guidance,  he 
reached  at  length  the  city  of  Chefter,  where,  as  the 
day  was  declining  towards  evening,  arriving  in  the 
midft  of  the  city,  when  he  heard  his  attendants  in- 
quiring where  they  were  to  ftay,  a  voice  fuddenly 
falls  upon  them.  "  Go,"  it  faid,  "  good  man,  to  the 
church  of  St.  John ;  there  you  mall  find  a  refting- 
place  prepared  for  you."  The  attendant,  aftonifhed 
at  what  he  heard,  gazes  all  round  with  curious 
eye,  feeking  for  the  owner-  of  the  voice,  but  none 
was  vifible.  It  was  clear,  forfooth,  that  it  was  the 
Lord's  holy  angel  who,  accompanying  them  on 
their  journey,  and  ordering  everything  for  their 
benefit,  had  told  the  man  of  God  that  a  place  was 


The  Life  of  King  Harold.          1 8 1 

prepared  for  him.  And  he,  as  was  his  cuftom, 
with  the  veil  that  hung  before  his  eyes  covering 
nearly  the  whole  of  his  face,  had  difguifed  his 
countenance,  left  he  might  frighten  thofe  who  met 
him  by  the  remarkable  appearance  of  his  wounds ; 
or  left,  if  he  were  recognifed,  a  feeling  of  vanity 
might  fteal  over  his  fenfes  at  the  reverence  he  would 
be  fubjedled  to.  The  byftanders  foon  point  out 
with  their  finger  the  church  which  was  fignified  to 
them  by  the  divine  oracle ;  he  approaches,  and  is 
heartily  welcomed  as  a  heavenly-appointed  gueft. 

For  the  fad  was  that  a  venerable  hermit  of  that 
place  had  recently  departed  this  life,  thus  leaving 
his  little  dwelling  vacant  for  a  holy  fucceffor  thus 
divinely  provided.  The  daughter  of  Sion,  by 
which  I  mean  the  church  we  have  mentioned 
above,  full  of  joy  and  gladnefs  (though  no  one 
knew  for  certain  who  he  was),  received  her  King, 
though  feated  in  this  ignoble  fafhion,  and  yet  a 
faint,  and  coming  in  all  things  as  a  Saviour  to 
them.  And  as  he  abode  there,  when  he  was  fre- 
quently afked  by  thofe  who  came  to  vifit  him,  and 
who  reported  what  edification  they  gained  from 
him,  whether  he  was  prefent  at  the  war  when  King 
Harold  was  faid  to  have  been  killed,  he  replied, 
"  I  was  certainly  there."  But  to  fome  who  fuf- 
pected  that  perhaps  he  might  be  Harold  himfelf, 
and  who  queftioned  him  more  clofely  than  was 
right,  he  would  fometimes  thus  fpeak  of  himfelf, 
"  When  the  battle  of  Haftings  was  fought,'  there 
was  no  one  more  dear  to  Harold  than  myfelf." 
With  fuch  ambiguous  words,  fo  to  fpeak,  he  did 


1 82  The  Life  of  King  Harold. 

not  fo  much  confirm  the  truth  of  the  facts,  as 
refufe  to  ftrengthen  them  in  their  doubtful  con- 
jectures. But  how  the  evidence  of  the  matter 
became  at  length  plainly  known  to  all  will  be 
mown  below  in  the  words,  not  of  ourfelves,  but  of 
a  venerable  man  who  fucceeded  Harold  in  his 
habitation  at  the  fame  hermitage. 


CHAP.  XVI.— The  reader 
dejpife  the  reading  which  he  feels  differs  from  the 
opinions  ofjome;  and  concerning  the  three  occafions 
of  thofe  who  think  differently  about  this  prejent 
Jubjeft  ;  and  concerning  the  threefold  miftake  of 
William  of  Malmejbury  on  the  fate  of  Harold. 

IEANWHILE,  i  think  i  ought  in  aii 

humility  to  fuggeft  to  the  reader 
that  he  fhould  not  think  he  ought 
to  defpife  our  hiftory  from  its 
evident  infignificance,  becaufe,  perchance,  he  re- 
members that  many  perfons  have  fpoken'  and 
written  on  this  fame  fubject  in  one  place  or 
another;  for  it  is  plain  that  not  only  ordinary 
hiftorians,  but  alfo  moft  renowned  orators,  have 
thought  and  written  not  only  differently,  but 
quite  the  oppofite  to  each  other  concerning  the 
words  of  Harold.  For  it  is  quite  clear,  both  by 
common-fenfe  as  well  as  authority,  that  what 
differs  from  truth  cannot  be  true.  This  alfo  St. 
Jerome,  at  the  dictation  of  truth  itfelf,  has  faid. 
But  in  the  reafonablenefs  of  thefe  opinions  which 


1 84          The  Life  of  King  Harold. 

we  are  here  ventilating,  a  threefold  caufe  of 
difference  of  opinion  or,  what  no  one  ought  to 
deny,  of  falfehood,  can  be  afligned  by  thofe  who 
well  confider  the  matter.  In  the  firft  place, 
indeed,  it  is  plain  that,  in  many  cafes,  the  truth 
of  matters  has  for  a  long  time  efcaped  everyone. 
Hence  diflike  of,  or  favour  to,  a  particular  perfon 
feems  to  have  given  an  excellent  opportunity  to 
kindly-difpofed  perfons  of  relating  good  things, 
and  likewife  to  evil-difpofed  perfons  of  inventing 
evil  things,  when  the  facts  themfelves  were  un- 
certain. 

Actuated  by  fome  fuch  confederation  as  this, 
that  moft  eloquent  William  of  Malmefbury 
difcriminates  in  his  chronicles,  and  promifes  to 
take  a  half-way  pofition  between  Harold's  de- 
tractors and  his  fupporters.  I  mould  have  thought 
he  would,  without  doubt,  have  infifted  on  the 
truth  for  its  very  virtue's  fake,  and  would  not 
willingly  have  defrauded  the  merits  of  the  affair 
of  their  juft  praifes  or  their  due  criticifm.  But 
becaufe  he  wrote  of  things  he  had  heard  of  but 
had  not  feen,  by  the  law  of  hiftories  the  truth  of 
the  writer  is  aflured  where  the  truth  of  the  facts 
themfelves  is  wrecked  ;  otherwife,  not  even  had 
the  moft  blefled  writers  of  the  Gofpels  efcaped  the 
rifk  of  miftakes — thus  Jofeph  is  called  the  father 
of  the  Saviour ;  thus  certain  of  His  difciples  are 
more  particularly  called  His  brothers  than  the  reft, 
not  that  their  real  father,  but  their  putative  father 
had  them  as  fons,  not  indeed  natural,  but  adopted 
fons.  Therefore,  following  general  opinion,  and 


The  Life  of  King  Harold.          185 

unaccuftomed  to  the  truth,  this  man  is  known  to 
have  introduced  into  his  hiftory  what  it  is  plain 
was  the  reverfe  of  the  truth,  however  much  the 
truth  of  things  is  relied  on  to  ftrengthen  one's  ftory. 
But  in  the  other  things,  which  he  commented 
upon  at  one  time  with  a  pen  of  gold,  at  another 
with  a  pen  fteeped  with  pitch,  concerning  the 
merits  or  manners  of  Harold,  as  his  mind  in- 
formed him  or  report  fuggefted,  perhaps  he 
wandered  from  the  path  of  truth  fomewhat  par- 
donably ;  but  he  fell  more  feverely  when  he  at- 
tacked the  very  Anointed  of  the  Lord.  For  he 
turned  upon  himfelf  in  his  impetuonty  three 
fpears,  by  which  it  chanced  that,  not  his  perfon 
indeed,  but  his  truth  was  attacked.  He  faid  that 
Harold  met  his  death  by  an  arrow-wound  upon 
his  head ;  he  faid  that  the  foldier  who  attacked 
the  dead  King's  thigh  had  been  driven  from  the 
army  after  cenfure  from  the  victorious  Duke ;  he 
related  that  money  was  offered  by  his  mother  to 
the  victorious  William  for  a  royal  funeral,  but 
that  he  was  taken  away,  without  payment  of 
money,  and  buried  at  Waltham.  Thus,  concern- 
ing the  thigh,  the  head,  and  the  man's  whole 
body,  the  tongue  of  the  fpeaker,  who  writes  many 
things  in  fecret,  runs  riot  with  more  licence  than 
the  armed  hand  of  the  foldier  who  fights  openly. 
But  the  Lord  has  delivered  the  poor  and  needy 
man — whom  He  has  proved  to  be  more  mighty 
in  moft  things  than  many  orators  and  kings — from 
the  arrow  of  the  mouth  of  the  one  and  from  the 
fpear  in  the  hand  of  the  other. 


1 86  The  Life  of  King  Harold. 

I  do  not  fpeak  of  all  thefe  things ;  but  the 
Lord  will  give  to  him  who  walks  in  fimplicity  the 
power  to  underftand  what  I  write,  to  think  what 
I  think.  But  a  contemporary  of  the  prefent  writer 
has  written  in  temperate  language  an  account  of 
thefe  things  (namely,  Ethelred,  a  venerable  abbot) 
in  the  life  of  his  holy  predeceflbr,  King  Edward. 
He  fays,  indeed,  that  Harold  either  fell  in  battle 
or  efcaped,  not  without  wounds,  referved  for  re- 
pentance. 


CHAP.  XV IL — What  happened  to  the  people  of 
Waltham  in  their  holy  anxiety  concerning  the 
burial  of  their  patron  ;  and  how  they  were  mifled 
by  a  woman  s  miftake. 

lUT  the  offence  of  fuch  a  miftake  on 
the  part  of  William  is  a  great  deal 
lefTened  becaufe  what  took  place  at 
Waltham  was  well  known  far  and 
wide.  For,  in  truth,  this  horrible  report  had 
reached  the  ears  of  the  private  domeftic  canons  of 
the  King  at  Waltham,  feeing  that  nearly  everyone 
was  faying  that  the  King  had  fallen  at  the  battle  of 
Haftings.  The  clerks,  fo  often  mentioned  above, 
not  unmindful  of  the  devotion  due  to  their  moft 
generous  patron,  fent  a  certain  woman  of  a  mrewd 
intelligence,  Edith  by  name,  to  the  diftrict  where 
the  battle  had  been  fought,  that  me  might  carry 
away  the  limbs  of  their  dead  lord,  to  be  buried 
reverently  in  their  church.  She  feemed  [a  more 
fuitable  perfon]  to  make  the  attempt,  infomuch  as 
the  weaker  and  lefs  favoured  fex  would  be  con- 
fidered  lefs  an  object  of  fufpicion  to  the  cruel 


1 88  The  Life  of  King  Harold. 

officers  in  authority,  and  more  an  obje<5t  of  com- 
panion. But  this  woman  feemed  more  fitted  than 
all  others  to  carry  out  this  affair,  becaufe  me  could 
more  eafily  difcover  amongft  the  thoufands  of 
corpfes  him  me  fought,  and  would  handle  his 
remains  more  tenderly,  becaufe  me  loved  him  ex- 
ceedingly, and  knew  him  well,  inafmuch  as  it  was 
clear  that  me  had  been  frequently  prefent  in  the 
fecret  places  of  his  chamber.  But  when  me  reached 
the  ill-omened  fpot,  me  heard  from  many  Normans, 
who  were  everywhere  boafting,  that  the  King  of 
the  Angles  was  ignominioufly  beaten,  with  his 
crofs  broken  in  halves,  and  that  he  was  lying  on 
the  battle-field,  killed  amongft  the  {lain. 

But  let  the  reader  fee  what  turned  out  to  be  a 
truer  account.  For  others  thought  that  they  who 
had  carried  off  the  King  half  dead,  had  fet  about 
this  report,  forefeeing  that  it  would  be  dangerous 
to  them  and  to  him,  and  would  prove  their  certain 
deftrudion,  if  the  enemy  mould  hear  that  he  was 
alive.  We  muft  not  therefore  wonder  at  the 
miftake  of  the  woman  who,  unable  to  difcern  the 
features  of  the  body — hacked  about  as  it  was, 
covered  with  blood,  already  becoming  black  and 
decompofed,  fince  me  could  not  find  one  which 
me  could  be  certain  was  the  King's — feized  hold 
of,  and  carried  off  with  her,  another  man's  mangled 
corpfe,  to  fatisfy  the  public  eftimation.  And  this 
was  the  body  which  was  received  in  all  reverence 
by  the  Canons  of  Waltham,  without  queftioning 
the  truth  of  the  matter,  and  was  handed  over  for 
burial  in  the  Church  of  the  Holy  Crofs. 


CHAP.  XVIII.—How  a  brother  of  Harold, 
Gurth  by  name,  replied  to  Walter  the  Abbot,  or 
others,  when  ajked  concerning  the  a/hes  or  the 
burial  of  his  brother. 

N  the  days  of  King  Henry  II.,  there 
was  feen  by  that  King  himfelf,  as 
well  as  the  nobles  and  people  of  the 
land,  a  brother  of  Harold  named 
Gurth,  whom  the  above-mentioned  hiftorian  in  his 
book  relates  at  the  time  of  the  arrival  of  the 
Normans  to  have  been  in  years  little  more  than  a 
boy,  but  in  wifdom  and  uprightnefs  of  mind, 
almoft  a  man.  But  he  was,  at  the  period  we 
fpeak  of,  of  a  great  age,  and,  as  we  heard  from 
many  who  faw  him  at  that  time,  beautiful  to 
look  upon,  noble  in  mien,  and  very  tall  in  figure. 
The  Abbot  of  the  regular  canons  at  Waltham, 
the  Lord  Walter,  of  pious  memory,  was  the  firft 
to  fee  him;  and  was  very  eager  to  aik  him,  as 
well  as  his  brothers,  who  were  about  the  King's 
Court  at  Woodftock,  whether  in  real  truth  the 
afhes  of  his  brother  were  preferved  in  their 


1 90  The  Life  of  King  Harold. 

monaftery,  as  was  generally  believed.  He  replied 
in  Englifh,  "You  may  have  fome  countryman, 
but  you  have  not  Harold."  Yet  he  came  to  the 
place  himfelf  to  worfhip  the  Holy  Crofs,  and 
when  his  brother's  coffin  was  mown  to  him,  look- 
ing afkance  at  it,  faid :  "  Man  knoweth  not "  (for 
fo  he  fware).  "Harold  lies  not  here."  May  that 
Lord  Michael,  Canon  of  the  approved  religion, 
Chamberlain  of  the  Church  at  Waltham,  live  long 
and  flourim  in  Chrift,  who  firmly  aflerts  that  he 
heard  thefe  words  from  the  man's  own  mouth, 
while  many  flood  by,  fome  of  whom  ftill  furvive. 
Thus  having  difcufied  thefe  things  briefly  and,  as 
we  truft,  not  unprofitably,  for  the  information  of 
our  readers,  left  the  uncertain  differences  of  writers 
mould  difturb  them,  we  will  now,  as  we  promifed, 
fet  down  the  words  of  the  man  we  fpoke  of 
above,  by  which  it  is  clearly  taught  how  the  good- 
nefs  of  Chrift  made  plain  by  many  figns  the  fame 
of  His  fervant. 


CHAP.  XIX. — How  the  fucce/or  of  the  man 
of  God,  writing  a  true  account  of  the  deeds  of  the 
moft  blejfcd  Harold^  has  on  two  occafions  ajjigned 
inappropriate  reafons  for  his  aflions ;  with  a  dif- 
cujjion  on  the  fir  ft  reafon,  and  a  full  difpro-val  of 
the  fame  by  the  production  of  the  evidence  of  various 
opinions. 

|E  muft  confider  that  view  alfo  in  the 
words  of  the  moft  faithful  relator, 
that,  juft  as  he  lucidly  explained 
things  that  were  done,  fo  he  took 
care  to  exprefs  the  reafon  of  the  things  done  not 
fufficiently  fitly  and  prudently,  as  moft  people 
think ;  and  this  may  be  faid  without  offence  to 
fuch  a  great  man.  Hence,  therefore,  that  third 
thing  can  be  taken  into  confederation,  which,  as 
we  faid,  gave  rife  to  a  ground  of  difference  among 
the  writers :  I  mean,  the  quality  of  mind  or  in- 
telligence of  thofe  who  relate  all  thefe  things  in 
order,  who,  according  to  the  bent  of  their  mind, 
meafuring  the  affection  of  the  moft  holy  man,  and 
the  purpofe  of  his  actions,  have  taken  on  them- 


192  The  Life  of  King  Harold. 

felves  to  intimate  the  reafons  of  thofe  actions. 
The  evident  credulity  of  thefe  writers  by  carelefs 
expreflions  has  darkened  with  an  interpretation 
far  from  true  deeds  worthy  of  the  higheft  praife. 
And  this  feems  to  have  happened  not  once,  but 
twice,  to  this  good  man  in  the  courfe  of  his  narra- 
tive, in  their  opinion  who,  fully  relying  on  felf- 
evident  reafons  and  other  perfons'  opinions — I 
mean  the  opinions  of  thofe  who  had  clung  more 
clofely  to  the  fervant  of  the  Lord — have  imprefled 
in  fome  way  or  other  more  deeply  on  their  hearts 
an  inward  likenefs  of  his  mind.  But  what  thofe 
things  may  be,  by  which  the  courfe  of  that  truth 
is  not  fufficiently  eftablifhed  (as  is  thought)  it  is 
worth  while  to  difcufs  briefly,  to  the  end  that  we 
may  remove  from  the  midft  of  it  all  darknefs  of 
doubt,  bringing  to  bear  the  force  of  our  difcretion, 
as  far  as  we  can,  on  our  more  fimple-minded 
hearers. 

Thus  the  aforefaid  man  fays  of  the  faint 
who  was  then  on  his  journey  ings,  as  follows : 
"  Afterwards,  becaufe  to  live  on  one's  own  native 
foil  is  always  pleafant,  he  made  all  hafte  to  Eng- 
land, where  he  had  formerly  been  King,  that  he 
might  fpend  there  the  remainder  of  his  days." 
But  fince  it  is  a  trite  faying  of  the  wife  that  that 
man  is  yet  weak  who  holds  his  fatherland  dear, 
but  ftill  ftrong  when  he  makes  any  land  his  father- 
land, and  even  perfect  when  every  land  is  a  land 
of  exile  to  him  ;  who  does  not  fee  that  it  is  abfurd 
that  a  man  withered  with  old  age,  as  he  himfelf 
fays,  and  broken  down  by  the  length  of  his 


The  Life  of  King  Harold.  193 

journey,  religious  though  it  was,  fhould  be  de-  , 
clared  to  have  been  attracted  by  the  fweetnefs  of 
his  native  foil  to  feek  a  fatherland  again  in  it? 
And  does  not  the  Lord  fay  to  Abraham,  "  Get 
thee  out  of  thy  country ;"  and  again  in  the  Pfalm, 
"  Forget  thine  own  people  and  thy  father's  houfe  "? 
And  if  the  fweetnefs  or  recollection  of  his  land, 
his  people,  and  his  father's  houfe  could  not  hold 
him  of  lefs  age  or  inferior  ftrength  of  mind,  or 
holinefs  of  purpofe,  would  it  lead  or  would  it 
attract  him  to  all  thefe  things  whereby  the  more 
he  advanced  the  more  perfect  he  became  ?  but 
would  not  that  faying  of  the  evangelift  thunder  in 
the  fpiritual  ears  of  the  man  who  was  pondering 
in  his  heart  over  the  fweetnefs  he  had  loft,  "  No 
man  putting  his  hand  to  the  plough,  and  looking 
back,  is  fit  for  the  kingdom  of  God  "  ?  And  again, 
the  well-meaning  writer  does  not  confider  what 
fort  of  a  thing  that  native  foil  was  to  him — how 
it  was  ftill  unchanged,  how  it  was  hoftile  to  him 
and  his  party,  and  how  it  could  even  feem  to  him 
to  be  irkfome  when  he  looked  back  upon  the 
whole  of  his  life,  even  if  he  was  ftill  led  along  by 
an  affection  tenderer  than  ever. 


CHAP.  XX.— The  weaknefs  of  the  Jecond  reafon 
aj/igned,  and  the  writer's  warning  to  the  reader ; 
and  on  the  difficulty  of  patching  up  materials  torn 
indifcriminately  by  ancient  writers. 

|ND  indeed  he  has  no  ftronger  ground 
to  ftand  on,  when  he  alleges  the 
reafon  why  he  left  Shropfhire  to 
go  to  Chefter.  He  relates  that  he 
abandoned  the  place  in  which  (as  the  writer  main- 
tains), though  fo  cruelly  and  frequently  afflicted  in 
lofles  and  ftripes  by  the  Welm,  he  feemed  to  have 
fettled,  at  peace  with  himfelf  and  giving  thanks 
to  God,  for  the  fpace  of  feven  years,  in  order  that 
the  outward  tribulation  might  not  deftroy  the 
repofe  of  the  inward  man  from  its  attitude  of  felf- 
control.  But  this  opinion  is  detected  to  be  in- 
valid, no  lefs  than  the  other,  when  confidered, 
and  when  the  tradition  is  accepted  of  thofe  who 
affert  that  he  dwelt  in  the  country  of  the  Welfh 
for  this  very  reafon,  which  defcribes  how  he 
fuffered  at  the  hands  of  thofe  whom  he  had  in 
paft  years  afflicted  with  fuch  utter  devaftation, 


The  Life  of  King  Harold.  195 

though  with  an  apparently  juft  caufe,  whatever 
the  merciful  difpenfation  of  God,  who  orders  all 
things  in  kindnefs,  had  permitted  him  to  fuffer. 
For  if,  under  pretext  of  withdrawing  him  from 
fuch  violence,  he  had  refolved  to  change  his  abode, 
he  would  have  done  it  fooner,  and  not  have  waited 
to  be  afflicted  fo  often  with  lofTes  and  ftripes.  For 
he  was  well  acquainted  with  their  fhores,  in  the 
midft  of  which,  in  a  three-years'  expedition,  he 
knew  them  to  their  exceflive  coft,  as  is  related, 
thoroughly  and  entirely,  as  one  fays.  For  this 
was  the  land  which  he  had  fubdued  by  his  won- 
derful bravery,  when  yet  an  Earl,  and  nearly 
deftroyed  it,  which  not  one  of  the  Kings  who 
fucceeded  him  up  to  this  prefent  day  had  power 
to  do. 

For  it  is  maintained  that  he  poflefTed  fuch 
ftrength,  and  withal  fuch  wonderful  boldnefs  that, 
as  we  read,  not  one  of  the  armed  Norman  army 
approached  to  attack  him,  but  both  horfe  and 
rider  were  overthrown  by  him  at  the  firft  blow, 
mortally  wounded.  This  remarkable  valour  he 
had  now  put  off,  trufting  now  in  the  Lord,  and 
flying  with  wings  he  had  aflumed,  and  nowhere 
failing  in  his  flight.  But  the  only  thing  he  feared 
was  that  the  power  of  his  wings  might  be  weakened 
by  the  lubricity  of  a  worldly  profperity,  becoming 
feeble  and  not  fo  much  like  the  birds  whom  God 
feeds  as  thofe  men  whom  the  wind  feeds,  if  in  his 
cafe  the  feven  locks  of  Samfon  mould  be  morn  by 
the  razor  of  adulation.  It  was  this  alone  he  fled 
from,  becaufe  it  was  the  only  thing  he  feared  ;  it 


196  The  Life  of  King  Harold. 

was  not,  indeed,  the  weapons  of  the  Welfh,  but 
the  oil  of  the  finner.  He  knew  that  the  Welfh 
held  the  unknown  in  fufpicion,  but  thofe  who  were 
approved  in  religion  in  veneration,  and  that 
therefore  they  defpifed  the  companionmip  of  the 
one,  and  admired  that  of  the  other.  But  the  man 
of  God,  now  juft  and  brave,  now  prudent  and 
temperate,  fought  out  thofe  who  defpifed  him,  that 
he  might  fuffer  juftly  what  he  feared  he  had  de- 
ferved;  and  wifely  deferted  thofe  who  admired 
him,  left  he  mould  be  deprived  of  the  benefit  of 
his  temperate  moderation.  He  remembered  that 
the  fire  near  the  prophet  fuddenly  burnt  the  beau- 
tiful, fertile,  and  fruit-bearing  olive-tree,  at  the 
appearance  of  a  loud  voice  ;  wherefore  he  wifhed 
to  walk  with  the  great  and  not  amongft  thofe  who 
looked  on  him  with  admiration.  Therefore  he 
evades  liars  and  finners  whom  he  had  for  a  long 
time  borne  upon  his  back,  when  he  faw  they  were 
haftening  to  ftrike  on  the  head. 

But  now  my  ftory  pleads  for  an  ending.  My 
book  muft  be  clofed,  that  the  pen  of  thofe  who 
know  thefe  things  more  fully  may  narrate  what  it 
is  neceflary  to  be  known  concerning  Harold.  But 
Jet  this  little  book  in  its  laft  fentences  implore  the 
benevolent  reader  to  deign  to  make  allowance  for 
the  excefles  of  the  author  by  holy  prayers,  and 
aflifted  by  the  mterceflion  of  the  pious  King 
Harold,  let  him  take  him  in  his  company  to  the 
harbour  of  eternal  fafety  ;  may  he  grant  pardon 
for  the  garruloufnefs  of  the  writer  of  this  prefent 
work  when  he  fees  how  very  difficult  it  was  to 


The  Life  of  King  Harold.  197 

patch  up  and  make  new  again  the  materials  at  his 
command,  torn  and  mifplaced  as  they  are  by  the 
ftudies  of  former  authors,  and  to  guide  into  the 
wifhed-for  haven  the  boat,  old  and  mattered, 
amid  the  ill-famed  rocks  of  hiftories,  while  the 
tongues  and  writings  of  calumniators  are,  as  it 
were,  winds  fighting  againft  it.  But  all  glory  and 
honour  be  to  God  our  helper,  who  alone,  the 
Trinity  and  Unity,  is  King,  blefled,  worthy  of 
praife,  glorious  and  highly  exalted  for  ever. 


THE  NARRATIVE  OF  THE  HERMIT 


whojucceeded  the  holy  Harold  on  the  death  of  that 
mo  ft  -pious  King,  and  the  miracles  which  were  per- 
formed by  his  means  after  he  departed  to  the  Lord, 
preceded  by  a  fliort  account  of  his  doings  andfuffer- 
ings  from  the  time  he  loft  his  earthly  kingdom. 

T  is  written  that  tribulation  worketh 
patience,  patience  experience,  expe- 
rience hope.  For  the  experience  of 
patience  and  confirmation  of  a  pious 
hope,  God  fometimes  permits  His  people  to  have 
tribulation  in  this  life  that  He  may  free  them 
from  an  eternal  tribulation,  wherefore  He  alfo 
allowed  the  venerable  Harold,  once  King  of  the 
Angles,  to  have  tribulation,  and  to  be  overcome 
by  his  enemies,  and  expelled  from  his  kingdom, 
left  he  might  grow  proud  becaufe  he  had  gained  a 
victory ;  and  left,  having  been  raifed  to  kingly 
power,  he  might  put  on  one  fide  the  love  of  God 
becaufe  of  his  profperity,  but  having  been  placed 
in  poverty  that  he  might  live  a  more  holy  and 
blefled  life,  while  he  had  his  mind  altogether  free 
from  earthly  occupations. 


The  Life  of  King  Harold.  199 

Therefore,  after  the  lofs  of  his  kingdom,  and 
the  cure  of  the  wounds  he  had  received  at  the 
hands  of  the  Normans,  he  takes  a  [journey]  in 
the  guife  of  a  pilgrim  to  holy  places  through  many 
lands,  working  for  God  on  his  holy  pilgrimage. 
But  after  a  time,  being  ftiff  with  old  age  and 
mattered  by  his  long  journey,  he  became  defirous 
to  inflict  on  his  weary  body  another  form  of 
religious  practice.  And  becaufe  to  live  on  one's 
native  foil  is  always  pleafant,  he  made  all  hafte  to 
England,  where  he  had  formerly  been  King,  that 
he  might  fpend  there  the  remainder  of  his  days, 
poor,  defpifed,  and  meanly  clad,  where  once  he 
had  flourimed  as  a  king,  wealthy,  exalted,  and 
clad  in  coftly  garments,  and  in  order  that  his  merit 
might  increafe  in  the  fight  of  God  (in  proportion 
as  he  might  poflefs  a  more  benevolent  fpirit)  be- 
caufe he  would  be  able  every  day  to  look  upon 
his  adverfaries  and  be  happy  in  the  kingdom  he 
had  loft,  and  alfo  to  obey  the  Lord's  command  in 
praying  faithfully  to  God  for  them. 

On  arriving  at  the  mores  of  his  native  country, 
he  chofe  the  folitary  life  of  a  hermit,  and  living  there 
in  many  places  unknown  to  all  till  he  made  his  laft 
farewell  to  earthly  things,  he  miniftered  to  God  by 
faith.  Nor  did  he  change  his  place  of  abode  by  any 
caprice,  but  he  fought  where  he  might  ferve  God 
with  moft  tranquillity.  Now  this  fame  noble  man 
had  formerly  an  attendant  named  Mofes,  who, 
when  I,  the  prefent  writer,  was  confined  in  the 
fame  place  at  Chefter,  where  the  Lord  Harold,  the 
hermit  and  friend  of  God  died,  attended  me  alfo 


200  The  Life  of  King  Harold. 

for  two  years.  And  I  will  tell  you  briefly  and 
faithfully,  though  I  muft  omit  much,  the  events 
which  follow  according  to  the  account  of  Mofes  and 
other  faithful  men.  At  length  the  man  of  God  came 
to  Shropfhire,  to  a  place  called  (Cefwrthin)  Chef- 
wardine,  and  there  for  feven  years  leading  the  life  of 
a  hermit,  with  this  Mofes  for  his  attendant,  he  was 
very  much  difturbed  by  Welfh  robbers,  and  was 
frequently  and  violently  afflicted  at  their  hands  by 
their  robberies  and  afTaults.  All  this  he  bore 
with  patience,  in  all  things  giving  thanks  to  God 
with  humility.  But  after  a  time,  left  outward 
tribulation  mould  caft  him  down  from  his  pofition 
of  control  over  his  inward  man,  he  left  that  place, 
and  followed  by  the  above-mentioned  attendant, 
fet  out  for  Chefter,  and  there,  in  the  Chapel  of 
St.  James,  which  is  fituated  on  the  River  Dee, 
outfide  the  walls  of  the  city  in  the  cemetery  of  St. 
John  Baptift,  he  fpent  a  hermit's  life  with  great 
ftrictnefs  for  feven  years,  until  his  death.  He 
wore  for  a  long  time  a  corfelet  next  his  {kin,  till  it 
was  all  rotten,  and  quite  worn  away.  But  the 
cuttings  and  loofe  pieces  he  bade  his  fervant  throw 
fecretly  into  the  river,  that  it  might  appear  to  no 
man  that  he  had  worn  it.  In  his  body,  indeed,  he 
was  moft  chafte  and  continent :  in  heart,  lowly  and 
prudent.  Of  what  ftation  of  life  he  was  he  always 
kept  a  fecret,  that  he  might  not  by  chance  be 
held  in  too  great  veneration  by  men,  whereby  his 
mind  being  elated  he  might  flip  from  the  path  of 
uprightnefs,  and  the  merit  of  his  humility  might 
be  diminifhed  in  the  fight  of  God.  He  rarely 


The  Life  of  King  Harold.  201 

quitted  the  chapel,  but  was  conftant  in  continual 
prayer,  doing  what  God  has  faid :  that  men  ought 
always  to  pray  and  not  to  faint.  In  front  of  his 
eyes  he  hung  at  all  times  a  cloth,  which  covered 
nearly  the  whole  of  his  face,  fo  that  when  he 
wifhed  to  walk  at  all  far  he  required  the  hand  of 
a  guide.  Why  he  did  this,  his  attendant  did  not 
know ;  but  perhaps  he  did  it  to  hide  the  appear- 
ance of  the  wounds  upon  his  gamed  face,  or  left, 
if  a  free  outlet  for  his  eyes  exifted,  an  opening  for 
fecular  vanities  might  be  made  for  his  foul,  or  elfe 
it  was  that  he  might  not  be  recognifed  and  vene- 
rated by  any  who  had  feen  him  in  former  times. 


ON  THE  LAST  MOMENTS  OF  HAROLD. 

|OW  as  the  day  of  the  death  of  the 
venerable  Harold  drew  near,  and  as 
that  laft  moment  of  extreme  neceflity 
arrived  when  the  holy  man  demanded 
the  confolation  of  the  Holy  Sacrament,  a  prieft, 
whom  I  knew  well,  named  Andrew,  came  and 
vifited  the  fide  man  and  adminiftered  to  him  all 
that  the  Chriftian  rite  requires.  But  as  he  was 
liftening  to  his  laft  confeflion,  he  afked  him  of 
what  ftation  of  life  he  was  ?  To  whom  he  replied : 
"  If  you  will  promife  me,  on  the  Word  of  the 
Lord,  that,  as  long  as  I  live,  you  will  not  divulge 
what  I  tell  you,  I  will  fatisfy  the  motive  of  your 
queftion."  The  prieft  anfwered :  "  On  peril  of 
my  foul,  I  declare  to  you  that  anything  you  mail 
tell  me  mall  be  preferved  a  fecret  from  everyone 
till  you  have  drawn  your  laflrbreath."  Then  he 
replied :  "  It  is  true  that  I  was  formerly  the  King 
of  England,  Harold  by  name,  but  now  am  I  a 
poor  man,  lying  in  afhes ;  and,  that  I  might 
conceal  my  name,  I  caufed  myfelf  to  be  called 


The  Life  of  King  Harold.  203 

Chriftian."  Not  long  after  this  he  gave  up  the 
ghoft,  and  now,  conqueror  over  all  his  enemies,  he 
has  departed  to  the  Lord.  But  the  prieft  at  once 
told  them  all  that  the  man  of  God  had  confefled 
to  him,  in  his  laft  words,  that  he  was  indeed  King 
Harold. 


INDEX. 


AILARD,  physician  and  abbot,  17, 18, 23 
Alemrxnni,  the,  18 
Anchorite,  at  Chester,  78 
Andrew,  a  priest,  98 
Antichrists,  69 

Benjamin,  29 

Benoni,  29 

Beseleel,  6 

Brompton,  the  historian,  81 

Butler,  Alban,  44 

Ceswrthin,  or  Cheswardine,  co.  Salop,  96 

Chanaan,  28 

Chester,  city,  30,  77,  81,  95,  97 

chapel  of  St.  James,  97 

cemetery  of  St.  John  Baptist,  97 

chapel  of  St.  John,  77 

church  of  St.  John,  98 

Chophmos,  28 

Chrysanthus,  the  martyr,  44,  45 

Cnut,  King,  13 

Daci,  the,  or  Danes,  13-15,  36i  37 
Darin,  the  martyr,  44,  45 
De,  River,  97 
Domesday  Book,  34 
Dover,  69 

Edward  the  Confessor,  13,  15, 17 

Ellis,  Sir  Henry,  35 

Elsinus,  the  abbot,  55 

Esdras,  3 

Eyton,  Rev.  R.  W.,  quoted,  96 

Francalanus,  34 

Germany,  35 
Giraldus  Cambrensis,  81 
Godiva,  Countess,  96 
Godwin,  Earl,  13-15 
Grandmont,  Priory  of,  51 
Gregory,  St.,  74 

Hardy,  Sir  Thos.  D.,  ix.-xi.,  81 

Harold,  description  of  the  MS.  Vita,  i. ; 
history  of  the  MS.,  ix. ;  notice  of  his- 
torical points  and  translation,  xii.  ;  pedi- 
gree of,  13 

Hastings,  xi.,  78 

Henry  I.,  King,  26 

Henry  II.,  King,  51 

Hiram,  6 


Jacob,  29 
Jeronymus,  79 
Jerusalem,  3 
Jonah,  51 
Joseph,  28 
Joseph,  St.,  80 

Knighton,  the  historian,  81 
Longobardi,  the,  74 

Martha,  66  _ 

Mary,  Virgin,  66 

Moses,  3 

Moses,  or  Moyses,  a  servant,  95-97 

Nehemiah,  quoted,  3 
Neustria,  24,  52 
Normandy,  24,  29,  34,  54 
Norway,  29,  36,  50,  54 

Ooliab,  6 
Oxfordshire,  31 

Paralysis,  17 
Paul,  St.,  70 

Pedigree  of  Harold  and  William  the  Con- 
queror, 13 
Prom  Abbey,  45 

Rachel,  29 
Relics,  44 
Rothomagus,  51 

Saboth.  68 
Samaritans,  the,  34 
Saracen,  a,  woman,  35 
Saul,  14,  71 
Saxony,  35,  36 
Sebricht,  anchorite,  30 
Shropshire,  96 
Stanton,  in  Oxfordshire,  31 
Stephen  VI.,  Pope,  44 
Syon,  78 

Uriah,  15 

Wales,  17,  71,  73 
Waltham,  19,  20,  24-26,  8t 
William  the  Conqueror,  13,  24-26  , 
William  of  Malmesbitry,  80,  81 
W.  Pictaviensis,  the  historian,  81 
Winchester,  city,  35 


ELLIOT     STOCK'S     PUBLICATIONS. 


Now  ready,  in  two  vols.,  paper  boards,  price  tos.  6d.,  post  free. 
A  FACSIMILE  OF  THE  FIRST  EDITION  OF 

Rasselas,  Prince  of  Abyssinia. 

By  Dr.  SAMUEL  JOHNSON.    With  an  Introduction  by  Dr.  JAMES  MACAULAY,  and 

a  COMPLETE  BIBLIOGRAPHY  of  the  Work  to  the  present  date. 

*»*  Fifty  large  paper  copies  have  been  printed,  price  us.  each. 

"  The  best  tribute  to  the  memory  of  Johnson  which  the  centenary  of  his  death  has  called 
forth .' ' — A  thenceum. 


Tastefully  printed  on  fine  paper,  with  Illustrations  in  the  highest  style  of  Wood 
Engraving,  price  95. ,  post  free. 

Grays  Elegy. 

Written  in  a  Country  Churchyard.     With  a  Facsimile  of  the  Fair  Copy  of  the 
Original  in  the  Author's  Handwriting. 


In  large  410.,  ancient  MS.  style,  price  6s.  6d.,  post  free. 

Shapiras  Last :  ffe,  She,  It. 

An  Episode  in  early  Egyptian  History.    This  wonderfully  clever  skit,  which  appeared 

in  Germany  a  few  months  since,  has  been  translated  into  English  rhyme,  with  all 

the  irresistibly  comic  illustrations  given  in  the  original. 

"  With  its  rough  canvas  cover,  corroded  seal,  and  leather  thongs  for  clasps  ;  the  torn  and 
broken  edges  of  the  imitation  papyrus,  stained  and  streaked  as  though  by  the  hand  of  Time 
and  the  saturation  of  the  waters  of  the  Nile  ;  marvellously  qu_aint  drawings,  and  generally 
dilapidated  appearance,  He,  She,  It  offers  a  strange  and  diverting  novelty  to  lovers  of  books 
at  a  reasonable  cost." — Daily  News. 


In  two  vols.,  handsomely  bound  in  cloth,  price  i8s.  ;  in  Roxburgh  morocco,  zis.  ; 
large  paper  (50  copies  only)  403. 

Cornish  Worthies : 

Sketches  of  some  Eminent  Cornish  Men  and  Families.     By  WALTER  H.  TRE- 

GELLAS. 

"An  excellent  book,  happily  thought  of,  and  happily  brought  to  a  successful  issue."— 
Morning  Pest. 

"  The  writer  has  aimed  at  interesting  the  general  reader  as  well  as  giving  the  antiquary  and 
the  genealogist  materials  from  which  to  glean  valuable  information."—  Western  Antiquary. 

"  Thanks  partly  to  the  superior  sources  of  information  within  the  author's  reach,  the  work 
is  the  most  complete  extant ;  and  the  various  essays  or  biographies  constitute  excellent 
reading. " — Cornubia.ii. 


In  crown  8vo.,  Contemporary  binding,  price  los.  6d.,  post  free. 
THE  LIFE  AND  STRANGE  SURPRISING  ADVENTURES  OF 

Robinson  Crusoe, 

Of  York,  Mariner.     Being  a  Facsimile  Reproduction  of  the  First  Edition,  published 
in  1719,  with  the  curious  Frontispiece,  and  a  Preface  by  AUSTIN  DOBSON. 


ELLIOT  STOCK,  62,  PATERNOSTER  ROW,  LONDON,  E.G. 


ELLIOT    STOCK'S     PUBLICATIONS. 


In  crown  8vo.,  6s.  ;  old  style  calf,  IDS.  6s. ;  antique  morocco,  £i  is.     Large  paper 
copies,  Roxburgh  binding,  £i  is.  ;  antique  Turkey  morocco,  £2  xos. 

Walton1  s  Compleat  Angler  ; 

Or,  The  Contemplative  Man's  Recreation.    A  Reprint  of  the  First  Edition,  pub- 
lished in  1653. 


In  crown  8vo.,  old  style  binding,  price  55.,  post  free. 

George  Herbert's   Temple. 

Sacred  Poems  and  Private  Ejaculations.     By  GEORGE  HERBERT,  late  Oratour  of 

the  Universitie  of  Cambridge. 

This  Facsimile  is  made  from  one  of  about  twenty  copies  which  were  struck  off 
for  presentation  to  Herbert's  friends,  in  1633,  before  the  issue  to  the  public  of  the  first 
published  edition.  Reproduced  from  Mr.  Huth's  copy. 


In  small  410.,  antique  binding,  price  xos.  6d.,  post  free.     Large  paper  copies,  sis. 

Miltoris  Paradise  Lost. 

A  Facsimile  Reproduction  of  the  First  Edition  of  1667.     With  an  Introduction  by 
DAVID  MASSON,  M.A.,  LL.D.,  Author  of  the  "  Life  of  Milton,"  etc. 


In  crown  8vo. ,  boards,  or  old  style  binding,  price  35.  6d. ,  post  free. 

Bunyans  Pilgrims  Progress. 

Being  a  Facsimile  Reproduction  of  the  First  Edition,  published  in  1678. 


In  crown  8vo.,  old  style  binding,  price  55.,  post  free. 

Some  Passages  of  the  Life  and  Death  of  the  Right 
Hon.  John,  Earl  of  Rochester. 

Who  died  on  the  26th  July,  1680. 

Written  by  his  own   direction  on  his  deathbed.    By  GILBERT  BURNET,  D.D. 

Reprinted  in  Facsimile  from  the  Edition  of  1680.     With  an  Introductory  Preface  by 

Lord  RONALD  GOWER,  and  Portrait 


Handsomely  bound  in  vellum,  small  410.,  price  175.  6d. 

A  Noble  Boke  of  Cookery. 

A  Collection  of  Quaint  Recipes  and  Menus,  throwing  much  interesting  light  on 
the  Culinary  Arrangements  of  our  Forefathers.  A  Verbatim  Reprint  from  a  rare  MS. 
of  the  fourteenth  century,  in  the  Holkham  Collection.  Printed  in  old  style,  and 
tastefully  bound. 


ELLIOT  STOCK,  62,  PATERNOSTER  ROW,  LONDON,  E.G. 


Jfc  "'     ll    [I     l    i